November 08, 2005
Neung Phak | Fucking USA |Abduction | USA
buy it
Reviewed by Dustin Drase.
Fucking USA is the culmination of "American" vitriol mixed with traditional, albeit bastardized Thai and Korean Pop music. For those uninitiated, Neung Phak is the alter ego of Bay Area noise band Mono Pause, and their incoherent revelry is in full force on the A side of this off-kilter diatribe. "Fucking USA" is a jaunty epic complete with searing guitar licks, and tasty synths. North Korea never had it so good; two sides packaged neatly with militant style cartoon graphics and a slab of quite possibly the heaviest vinyl 7’ ever made.
Side B is the real gem here, with two live recordings made at the Northwestern University radio station, WNUR. "Tui Tui Tui" is a revamped version of the standout track from 2004’s self title release (Abduction). Here, the track is slowed down, laden with bongos, and extra emphasis on the burbling electronics and tweety-bird J-pop vocals that made the original so infectious.
"Far King USA" starts out like spaced out spaghetti western. Sparse, noodly guitars dance across the sound plane, while eerie laughing, grunts and mumbles sneak through in the background. It’s like a whole bunch of Muppets took acid and drove through the dense Thai jungles blaring car radios. As short, dive-bomb electronic bursts give way to chorusy guitar melodies, the vocals pop in. The exotica element, with loungy vocals, jazz brushed drums and soft piano flourishes, compliments well to this radio friendly jam. Subversively transoceanic, Neung Phak continues to explore the realities of "traditional" protest party music in all the right ways.
Dustin Drase
Posted by Mack Hagood at November 8, 2005 09:46 AM