Album Review: The UV Race - Racism

Victorian 'avant-tards' UV Race (that's their term, by the way) cruise their third album into life with Be Yourself, a droney, cheesy solipsistic anthem of independence, and the six-piece couldn't make their intentions clearer.

Slacker rock grooves and droning, fun fuzz rock are the names of UV Race's game. Purposefully amateurish vocals and a powerful rhythm section dominate the space, with bursts of distorted guitar riffs, saxophone punches and twee keyboard melodies providing the accents. The liner notes state that “you need the dick heads to be there so the legends look even more legendary”, so let that be fair warning to what the album contains.

Surprisingly sombre Sophie Says is a dreamy post-punk grower that really holds its place as album centrepiece and breaks the possible monotony of the slacker tunes. Combined with the following psychedelic punk rock and real album highlight, Raw Balls, it showcases just what the band do best.

Anyone who's heard UV Race before will know whether or not this album will be to their tastes. The band aren't as chaotic as they are on their earlier releases, but the restrained approach doesn't mean a less satisfying listen – the group's Velvet Underground-cum-The Fall songwriting approach is still terrific and the cheesy synth lines and fun lyrics (I'm A Pig is 90 seconds of pig rhymes; childish giggling ensues) give the new album a late-era Nancy Vandal feel. The album does lean on irony and silliness too much at times, especially considering how great the band prove themselves to be on closer Memenonome. At 29 minutes, the LP doesn't overstay its welcome, and should be checked out by most garage/experimental rock fans.