Townsend Records Critics - Transister

Overlooked and very underrated. Gary Clark's career since his one main hit 'Mary's Prayer'; has been a fairly near miss. Over the years, he's partaken in quite a few bands (King L, Danny Wilson) and collaborations (Lauren Christy, Boo Hewerdine), but his latest is the most interesting. Now complete with bald shiny head, he takes on the loud lead guitar hero duties. The drop dead gorgeous blonde on vocals and occasional dictaphone is the offspring of Tremoloe Chip Hawkes and 70's horror film actress Carol Dilworth. The line up is completed by long-time Clark associate Eric Pressly on bass. Their music is as much as a mixture as the band themselves, Garbage and Portishead spring to mind initially. This is perfect stuff for the late nineties but little success has come their way so far.

Stand out tracks include the opener and single 'Look Who's Perfect Now' which sets the stage well. The quiet verses up to rousing choruses with backing vocals abounding. But this is no verse/chorus band, heavy style samples are everywhere but carefully chosen, rarely intruding on the overall effect. 'Dizzy Moon' as a single may have sealed Transister's fate as Garbage wannabes but it's still a fine song. 'Falling Off The World' is probably the strongest track here, a classic chorus blending well with understated verses. Other highlights include 'What You Are' and Clark's backing vocals on 'Weather Boy.' 'Stars Collide' and 'I Saw Red' are more old style Gaz, very melodic and in many ways very different from the rest of the album. Hawkes' vocals and the bands rock/sample style are reminiscent of Berlin and Terri Nunn for those old enough to recall 'Count Three; Pray' (another band criminally neglected and sadly only remembered for their worst moment with the Moroder produced/killed 'Take My Breath Away').

The Garbage comparisons did little in the way of favours for Transister, they are altogether more British and more varied than Butch Vig's metal Yank affair. It's hard to imagine them trying the 'I can't get enough of you' refrain from 'Falling Off The World' and maintaining restraint from over doing it.

This is far more than another female fronted band. Unfortunately for them, and us, their predecessors' acheivements (or lack of) has determined that a little success takes a long time to come and may not last, if they get there at all...RD

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Rating

"…dreamier tracks toward the end of the album stand out…"

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