Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours [Goner 2008]

Borrowing their name from the process of the circulation of electrons caused by changing the direction of a magnetic field, the Eddy Current Suppression Ring are a spiraling surge of first-wave punk rock and a definite directional shift away from the homogeny of the third-wave. This circulation brings forth resurgences of The Buzzcocks, The Undertones, The Fall, and fellow ‘Down Under’ rockers Radio Birdman. Eddy Current Suppression Ring isn’t the only fitting name the group has come up with. As the title of the album suggests, Primary Colors sticks to the basics without destroying the group’s palate and canvas with a confusing and polluted mess. The albums opener, “Memory Line” also hints at the groups intentions of taking punk back to its essence as vocalist Brendan Suppression spastically croons like Howard Devoto (The Buzzcocks, Magazine & Luxeria) by spitting out, “I took a walk down memory lane”.

Eddy Current evokes the type of punk our generation has thrown to waste—a music and a time we can only romanticize. Yet these Melbourne lads allow us the opportunity to drop the romanticism and explore the true and original spirit of punk in all its filthy glory forty years after the music’s inception. Maybe it's Australia? The ‘Land of Oz’ has generated quite the punk lineation (it must be all those bloody criminals). Radio Birdman must be proud parents, for their children haven't rebelled against the beauty of elemental angst! Whatever the reason, it’s revitalizing to hear stripped down rock n’ roll and a style of pop music that over the past few decades has blown off course.

Brendan Suppression’s voice is dead-on in its mingle of Mark E. Smith and Half Japanese with the grimy twist of his Melbourne accent. An accent I usually despise, unless of course it's belting out over a bed of distorted three-chord madness and a 4/4 beat. “Colour Television” is centered on the lyrical repetition of, “ It’s coming from my colour television”, which is evocative of Wire’s 1977 anthem “Ex-Lion Tamer” and its central line: “Stay glued to your TV set”. Like all spot on punk, Primary Colours stays true to its sound while also straying clear of monotony. The albums halfway point is met with the catchy power-pop instrumental “That’s Inside of Me”, before returned back to familiar ground with the albums longest number, “I Admit My Faults”. The vocals “I still don’t know which way to go” are ironic, because on their second release Eddy Current Suppression Ring have found their calling. In just under forty minutes, Primary Colours successfully accomplishes the music’s basis: a mass of solid songs in the shortest possible time span.

Bardos Freedoom