HOT WATER MUSIC

That question can even be asked in more general terms? How many records of a genre do you really need? I mean, absolutely really? Yeah, if you are asking absolute absolutely you don’t need any records at all. In absolutely absolute terms you don’t need most of the stuff you own. No shoes, no clothes, no books, no recors, of course no internet and computer and so on, but that is a dull point to make. So I ask you in relative terms: How many records of one genre do you really need? Do you prefer a few records from each genre (you like) to a lot of records in just one genre? How do you prefer your tastes and needs?

People are different, and so are their ways of collecting records. Suddenly I realise, that I have a lot of records. Sometimes I think, way too many records. Other times, I don’t think so. Anyway, I am in th elucky position, that one more record (by Hot Water Music) won’t make any difference, really. The only other reason, I can think of, why you absolutely should by this record is being an avid fan. If you can’t live without HWM, if you speak and breathe HWM, then you will have to buy this. Otherwise, especially if you own no or only one or two records by HWM, then you have a lot to choose from. Actually, all records by HWM are very good. With exception of the live-album, I am in no position to give advice, on which HWM-album is their best or their most important or whatever.

After how many years you think you have heard it all? After what experiences, are you sure, that noting ever will surprise you anymore? (I see now, that today I am in the mood to put general questions into reviews a lot, which is bad style and I don’t like that.) The more you are one, to think about this, the more you long for new things, for enriching experiences, for new friends and ideas. There was a time, when bands could do that to you. But just like smack or other drugs, the novelty wears of. First you try other bands, than it all gets just music to you. (The drug-metaphor always has a lot of advantages.) (As well as putting things in brackets.) Hot Water Music once were such a novelty to me. They had energy and style and their own very groovy flow, and they still do. The guitars ripped through the air, the bass and drums laid down a solid foundation and the hoarse voice sang of society, experiences and love, about people and partners met and lost, and, oh yeah, lots of emotions. I used to compare them to Avail, which nobody understood, because I referred to their energy and presence more than to their style or genre.

But now it has worn off somehow. I won’t say that it is HWM’s fault, except maybe that you could accuse them of doing what they are doing best. I am still very sorry to have missed their live-show in Vienna, which I heard was great, but I am definitely not sorry that I haven’t bought each and every record of them. And you should consider those points as well.

P.S.: Is it really okay, to think that everybod knows HWM anyway? Their music? Their style? Or would it’ve been necessay to describe them more deeply? Aw, hell, go to the next record store and check them out, if you don’t know them, because you are the one who’s missing out. Not me. Oh no.

P.P.S.: The great cover-paintings on lots of HWM-reocrdings should be mentioned. If you can snap up any information on Scott Sinclair (any Juxtapoz-readers maybe?) please send 'em to me.