HONEYHANDER - WOOLLY MANNERISMS CDEP (RTB#11) REVIEWS GROOVE Honeyhander ambulerar från Rhode Island med sitt musikmonster uppfött på lika delar noise, drömsk pop, industrirock, punk och electronica. Vince & Justin, alias The Kinky Wizards från filmen High Fidelity, är nog den närmaste referensen jag kan hitta. Och då är vi bara halvägs framme. Någonstans påminner sångrösten om en skruvad Marilyn Manson, särskilt i Professional Poise. Hela tiden som en blandning mellan spoken word och sång, dränkt i mer distorsion än självaste The Jesus & Mary Chain. Besvärligt måhända, men jag upplever någon form av masochistisk njutning av Honeyhanders imponerande debut-EP. I paradnumret Our Connoisseurs are Feeders, remixad av Pleasurehorse, tror jag att ljudvallen kan ha brutits. Jag vet inte om jag känner skräck eller förtjusning, förmodligen båda - men det är sekundärt. - Christian Thunarf BETTAWRECKONIZE Combining new – and no-wave, industrial, and electronica with punk seems so early 2000s now. We’ve seen The Faint, The Cinema Eye, Lack, A Luna Red, Other Men My Age, A Trillion Barnacle Lapse, and Sunshine all do this, and do it pretty exceptionally, already. So what could Honeyhander possibly bring to the table? They may be guilty of coming into their own a little behind the pack, but Honeyhander have managed to take the industrial know how of a Skinny Puppy, given it just the right amount of pop polish (think the new romantic movement sound of a Depeche Mode or Duran Duran – example “Porcelain Veneers”), and do it up right. Though I’d prefer a little creativity and melody in the vocal area – they do that whole nasal punk snotty PIL-style vocal thing -- the band do what they do (however “last year’s model” it is) very well. THE NERVE MAGAZINE Oh Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, I was completely unaware that you and that Pat Briggs guy from Psychotica had a love child. What’s that, you say? It was too powerful of a seed and you had to split it between five males so that your combined sound genes would not be too much for one soul to bear? Why my friend, you were thinking indeed. Hey, they conveniently made a band called Honeyhander and released a five song EP. Yes, thank you, I am very pleased because now I can stop listening to throwback new wave music and move into early ‘90s grunge-noise-techno retro. I just hope I don’t have to wear ugly clothes and be a prick to fully enjoy this wonderful creation of yours. Oh, but it was too short my friend. Just when I was getting into the sound (tiny bit muddy on the vocals), it was over. UNDER THE VOLCANO From the highly fertile creative breeding ground of Providence, Rhode Island comes Honeyhander who excel at crafting a unique blend of danceable, cacophonous new wave that is churned with layers of industrial noise that recalls New Order and The Fall at the apex of their respective creative tenures. And while Honeyhander succeeds in giving unknowing listeners an idea must have been like to experience artists from the great Factory label they don't come off as poseurs mired in mirroring every aspect of their influences. Wooly Mannerisms is more of a modernized retelling, if you will that mesmerizes listeners with its ability to transcend being a glorified time capsule by meshing its influences with post punk renderings. A canvas splattered with white noise laden guitars mixed with brooding vocals and rhythmically driving percussion paints Wooly Mannerisms in vibrant stylistic colors that can not be ignored. This is easily one of the most addictive releases that I have encountered in quite some time and with much fervor do I anticipate any future work from Honeyhander. PUNK PLANET This one took me totally buy surprise. The artwork was reminiscent of a Blood Brothers record so I thought maybe this band was going to sound something like them, but they resemble anything but. Honeyhander take the best parts of the old Wax Trax/Industrial sound, mix it with elements of new wave, and noisy guitars (reminiscent of Medicine) that results in a deep, layered backdrop for the hypnotic vocals, which have just enough effect on them to sound like they are almost another instrument. While the music is extremely catchy and dancey, it also has a pretty hard edge to it, making this come across as one of the most interesting and addicting records I've heard in a very long time. My only regret is that this is only a five song EP, hopefully a full-length is in the works as this is definitely a band I have high hopes for. (MXV)