Schnauser are like that guy you work with who seems nice but is secretly building a shrine made of children’s fingernails in his house. This Bristol band make gentle psychedelia whose sunny melodies, time signature jumps and poppy exploration hides cynicism, misanthropy and some nicely placed swearwords. Second album ‘The Sound Of Meat’ follows 2005’s ‘Kill All Humans’, and reveals more on each listen: what starts as light touch oddpop with the occasional twee title becomes acidic dissections of people and cultural crassness. It’s a heartening ride.
‘Cosmic Ordering Service”s title may tip you off that if broadly concerns the career arc of Noel Edmonds; it thankfully avoids irony and instead suggests much in a few oblique lines. It also sets a vague musical template for the rest of the album – impeccably produced songs made from a handful of sections, pocket symphonies with a warm, dusty glow. ‘World Of Whimsy’ sneers fluffily at adult men suspended in permanent adolescence with the help of martial drumming and disturbing background vocals. The horribly-titles ‘I Wuv You, Mommy’ is redeemed by loading its muse on US film sentimentalism with galloping Joe Meek-style escapism. Even when the high sheen grates a little, when you need a little screaming craziness to break up Alan Strawbridge’s faultless crooning, sharp edges poke out. The gorgeous pastoral instrumental waltz, with squelch bass and mandolin, goes by the name of ‘I Couldn’t Fuck A Gorilla’. ‘Nobody Loves Me’ runs on desperation and an equally potty mouth. And what are we to make of ‘Everything Is Nice’? “Your hair / Nice / My hair / Nice / Our gene pool / Nice / Everything is working out so nice for us”. It’s creepy and vaguely sinister.
Not every song hits home, but there are plenty of great razorblades hidden in these apples. Without sounding much like any of them, Schnauser fit into the weird Brit lineage that also includes the Kinks, Roxy Music, Cardiacs, Blur and Silvery. ‘The Sound Of Meat’ is a fine record, inventively crammed but light as a feather. It also chucks in some comedy lounge jazz at the end, which is, you know, nice.
Released September 20th
