Chicks on Speed Will Save Us All! by Chicks On Speed (Review)

It’s the sound of the world’s cheapest technology. Electronic punk, with a few tunes, and three women yelping about every piece of modern rubbish with a strange fondness. It’s art school humour, and it often works, despite the obligatory minute of distortion that has to crop up on electronic punk records (“Stang[re]issue”). Played on bad speakers, it sounds like someone rhythmically patting a plastic tub. Better speakers reveal a guitar. The riffs are funky, but you won’t rush out for the sheet music. I don’t know where the credited trumpet is.

“For All the Boys in the World” consists of lots of boys’ names yelped out followed by their telephone number. “Glamour Girl” stands out simply because it’s clearly in the wrong place; except for the stunningly blank vocal, it’s otherwise euro-dance by the numbers. “Eurotrash Girl” also has a clarity of production that earmarks it as misplaced, but at least it sounds right. They send themselves up too.

This is a must-hear record if you want a truly different type of pop. The cut-out dress on the cover looks appealing, but in ten year’s time your children will find it and disown you. Not everyone’s taste.

Written by Paul Morton.