Officer! — Some Songs/Bandagen
Some Songs/Bandagen is a CD reissue of a 1989 C60 cassette. It finds this Mick Hobbs(Half Japanese) fronted project dipping its sonic toes into the waters of wavering indie rock-pop, off-kilter singer-songwriter fare, wonky folk, & off-kilter easy listening/ children’s music.
The original C60 tape appeared on Switzerland's No Records and was released under Mick's own name with just the Bandagen title. With this recent Klanggalerie CD presented in a monochrome digipak- utilizing the album's original artwork of a woman with a doll on her tummy holding her head with her hands.
The first half/ six songs here come under the title of Some Songs. And these go from tuneful-wayward strumming, buoyant bass, vibes shimmer, and children’s choir backing vocals of “Plan For Peace”. Onto the off-kilter folk-meets- nursery rhyme bounding of “Hunter”. Though to the wondering easy listening keyboards, harp twang, and wavering melancholic male vocals of “Good Citizen's Car”.
The second half/ ten songs come under the banner of Bandagen- with a fair few of these tracks being instrumental/ lightly edged with vocals. These go from the wavering fiddle, bound bass work, and simplistic electro drum rhythm “Heartwood”. Onto twanging guitar discord, pounding bass/ beat, and off-kilter key piping of “Spewing”. Though to wavering ‘n’ warbling “Deflated” with its awkward guitar strums, off-key female chants, and cute vibe/ keyboard detail.
As a release, Some Songs/Bandagen has such fragile-to-wonky air about it- you feel at any moment Hobbs & co are either going to fall into muffled chuckles, or shoulder-shaking ‘n’ tear streaming breakdowns. For those who enjoy music that sits somewhere between wonky, felt, troubling, & gone wrong cute.