Royal Trux - Radio Video EP

Judging Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema’s chaotic sonic partnership is problematic because there are no real low-points with which to judge any of their releases against. Sure, people dislike one album or two in their canon, but they would still not go to the lengths of calling it a ‘weak’ release. If you dig a little deeper, folks don’t seem too keen on Sweet Sixteen’s u-bend-casserole album art, or Pound for Pound’s weary kiss-off.

Radio Video is sonically and conceptually breathtaking. Only their second release in the extended-play format (after 98’s 3 Song EP), it thrives within the bounds of a time-restraint and displays both the high-art and lo-fi sensibilities that Hagerty has been showcasing for nearly 30 years.

The record kicks off with the madly engaging, wildly kinetic “The Inside Game”, which was on the soundtrack to some putrid John Cusack movie about a book or something. Don’t let that put you off, there was some great music in that movie.

A pumping bass line thrusts and jives away on a baggy drum beat, while Neil ‘n’ Jen take it in turns to yowl and howl at the walls of their sonic asylum. The mutant dub feel of the track is only exacerbated by the liberal splashing of spacey reverb and scattershot echoes busting out of the speakers.

Neil’s trademark killer lyrics create some tasty lines: “You can gather round the river/You can gather on the porch/I’ll salute your self-deception/With a bright blue Jersey torch” is one of the prime quotes. Vocals-wise, JJ sounds like she’s possessed – “Give me the scoop!” – and Neil sounds like his guitar is playing itself in a righteous fury. It’s a hell of a start for such a low-key record.

“Victory Chimp Episode 3” has (possibly) the best bongos, the best flute and best title of anything in the Royal Trux canon. Hagerty’s frayed Captain Beefheart-inspired vocals, when combined with the maniacal musicality and layers of organic racket, could be the soundtrack to one of the more intriguing Charles Manson desert parties. The raging guitar workout has become a Hagerty trademark: Christ, he crafted at least one post-Trux record around his electric (in both senses of the word) guitar.

What follows is a trifecta of krautrock-damaged numbers each filled with signifiers that betray Hagerty’s pursuance of the surreal (he’s a disciple of Beefheart and Damo Suzuki). “Dirty Headlines” features a guest vocal from Reeta Young, but it’s the music that’s most striking. The drum sample thuds and jars like a rubbery Jaki Liebezeit original, and the Can-ness of the track is only exacerbated by Hagerty’s spiralling, echoing guitar textures. There’s some highlight-reel background screeching from Herrema, and Hagerty’s crass lines amount to some of the funniest in the Trux cannon: “You’re so rank you probably try to lick your own skank” and “You could hire a donkey to lick yo’ ass.”

Following number “Mexican Comet” is essentially a shard of a track. But the clicking, metronomic percussion and ominous background grog could be culled from Köln’s finest.The final track “On My Mind” would fit nicely on Ege Bamyasi (probably after “Vitamin C”?): The pump and thrust of the bass combined with the clanging percussion and the oddness of the vocals approximates both the Bristol sound and the sound of the Deutsche communes in one fell swoop. Hagerty’s cocky rapping seals the deal: “Yeah we’re a bunch of long-hairs/What about it?/What do I care?”

This is/was a sterling release from Royal Trux, and holds up as well in 2014 as it ever has. If you’re new to Royal Trux, it could be a superb entry point into their flawless catalogue. If you’re familiar with them but haven’t heard this – snap to it! Basically, it’s essential listening, and kicks the lid off any other EP released around the same time. Thank God for Royal Trux, they are a once-in-a-lifetime act.