Scootering Words & Sounds
The best of scootering words and music as reviewed by Nik & Sarge.
The Medway area in the South East area of England has for some years now been both prolific and productive in terms of musical output. Countless acts, bands and musicians have emerged out of the Medway Delta. Some devotees of Medway area bands even claim there is a particular sound that has developed that is unique. A contributing factor to that viewpoint is that nearly every musician and musical artist based there appears to have a tendency to be part of a number of different acts. Cross-pollinating, juggling a number of bands simultaneously and the like, certainly to outsiders, borders on being musically incestuous.
Sergeants Mess first arrived via their Billy Childish-produced debut four track EP, which was way back in 2002. The four-piece consisting of Johnny Barker, Chris Hartley, (both multi instrument musicians and both lead vocalists), along with Darryl Hartley (guitar and banjo) and Wolf Howard (drums and percussion) have a combined musical CV that links them all with a sizeable number of well-known as well as cult Medway area acts. Busy chaps! So much so that there was an 11-year gap between the release of that first Sergeants Mess EP and their next recording session as Sergeants Mess. A further five years have passed since then, the result of which is the Well That’s Another Nice Mess single, Inaugural release on the brand new Spinout Nuggets set up. The two tracks showcase the contrasting musical approaches of this outfit. Couldn’t I Be Yours is unmistakeably a typical Medway number. With a nod and a wink to those 60s garage punk outfits that provided both musical influence and inspiration, of lesser or greater degrees, that evolved into the archetypal Medway style. Contrastingly, Back In The Bag sees Sergeants Mess pushing boundaries, kicking over fences as well as indulging collective ideas. Musically this demonstrates a more diverse edge to their capabilities. ’Bag certainly tips its hat to Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz. Limited to a run of 300 singles on lovely vinyl 7in 45s, complete with individually numbered picture sleeves, it’s going to be one of those grab it while available releases. Or pay collector’s item prices to secure a copy if you choose to wait. It was officially released mid-February, so contact www.spinoutproductions.com for mail order details and other information about Sergeants Mess.