BIG NURSE

American waste

LP, High Density Headache

There is still nothing like a full teenage* freakazoid noise and distortion blowout over the length of two album sides. That kind of fresh and uninhibited approach to music by fucking it all up always comes off nicely and full of energy and youthful spirit. This has to be 80-90 % improvised and sounds like a whole lot of fun on a stage as well as in their rehearsal room (if the electric wiring holds out).

Of course I got that little word play in Big Nurse’s bandname and no it is not a hint at Big Star, Big Chief, Big Black or Big Bad Motorfinger. Well, maybe the last has something to it, but the connection might not be clearly available at all times. Even if I guess I mangled that up big time. Well, let’s better stop the joking around, though tomfoolery (I just looked that word up) might be a big part of what Big Nurse is all about. Just take a look at the name of their record label, for which this album is release number one. I have a lot of trouble to imagine anybody to take this kind of music too seriously, except if they are from china, have studied art and are constantly playing galleries and exhibitions. But the art seriousness usually kills the spirit and the energy off. I don’t want to discuss the political implications and societal connotations of somebody trashing his electric guitar into his amps when all it is about are the great and beautiful sounds that omits. Today is our national celebrational day so the military is having a parade and just about half an hour ago helicopters, freight planes and jet fighters flew close over our house and even though I don’t like the army and I am a pacifist at heart, well at least mainly, I still enjoy those sounds enormously. The all encompassing thunder and air-solidifying waves of 100 gallons of fuel buring in jetplane-turbine every minute. And I enjoy this trashing, kicking and pounding noise freak out on “American Waste”.

Big Nurse’s wall of sound is not as dense and all-encompassing as that of a fighter plane of course. Their noise drips over the sides of the turntable like thick sludge, drums pound away behind a jungle of effects and noises and at times somebody is screaming something into a mic. I wouldn’t call this psychedelic as such, though it definitely has elements of a longwinded bad trip. If you are able to figure out the jokes behind the songtitles: “Runnin with the devil” (which is side A) and “DMX” (which is side B) you might also find yourself way too deep in the realm of Big Nurse already.

I am not afraid to say that I have no idea or knowledge about this band, but I respect their daring endeavour of self-releasing this monster (saleswise) and then sending it over the ocean to our place that I will step aside my usual rule and tack down some info from the sheet they’ve sent along: They have toured with bands completely unknown around here and they will release a seven inch and a split-CD with another completely unknown band / project. If names like Divine Pile, Ari Ari, Mattoid or Realicide say anything to you, you are welcome to write us a line and recommend yourself as a future reviewer. Especially if you know who Harry Pussy and Brian Ruryk were. Hell yes, we’d need some help at times. Anybody does. Big Nurse for instance haven’t found distribution yet. So how will you be able to get this record? Try bignurseband@hotmail.com and find out.

*) Yeah, it is obvious that these guys aren’t teenagers as such, i.e. over 20 years old, but that word sounded so good in the context I had to put it in there. I could have found some excuses now, such as that they might be over 20 but act as if they were younger, but I tell it like it is.

10/2005