Solution oriented muzik in a parallel universe

Artist: HUMANWINE
CD: Mass Exodus ep

Label: Nervouse Relatives Records / Self Released

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With a previous EP ("Rivolta Silenziosa") the US wandering HUMANWINE introduced us full-on to their narrative world of Vinland. They matched the metaphor-as-politics (and vice versa) stories with a gutter-circus-folk sound style that was a stunning marriage of simplicity and subtlety. It's sepiachord required listening.

On their full-length follow up, "Fighting Naked", the band continued to explore their Vinlandish themes but the music had more of a "rock" feel. The end result was good, but the band seemed a little uncomfortable in their new skin.

The new EP ("Mass Exodus") finds the band returning to a three song format and returning to more pared down arrangements. The results are arresting.

Of the three pieces found on this CD the last, "Our Devolution is Televised", best continues the work that Vinland fans love. It's political (of course) and features an infectious circus bounce. It could easily have been slipped in as the fourth track on "Rivolta Silenziosa" and held its own against the great songs found there.

The opening piece on this new EP is also overtly political: "1st Amendment". Its "be the media" messsage might come across as a nuts-and-bolts politcal screed... were it not so spare and, well, pretty. It builds and flows nicely showing off the performers individual strengths especially Holly Brewer's remarkable voice. Its a perfect appetizer for the middle piece: "Megan Rose".

"Megan Rose" seems to pre-date the existence of HUMANWINE as a band and features Holly alone, just her voice and a piano. When the song starts you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is merely a ballad of friendship to the title character. It *IS* that, but takes stomach-wrenching turns that are all the more powerful because you don't see them coming. This is the key to tragedy: you don't see it coming. "Megan Rose" is a beautiful, seductive PUNCH IN THE GUT that will make you cough up a bit of blood and still make you want to play it over and over... even if, like me, you found yourself on the verge of tears the first time you heard it. This really is one of those songs that descriptions fail for, you have to sit down and listen to it. And you should.

HUMWINE's DIY aesthetic has never been more clear in their sound ~and~ in the EP's visual presentation. Not only does the look and feel of the packaging clearly place the band in the line of descent from seminal grass-roots political rollickers Crass but HUMANWINE does something other bands never seem to do: give credit where it's due!

Lots of politically charged punk bands have aped the art of Crass, but this is the first time I can think of where credit for inspiration is given to the artist responsible for this distinctive look: Gee Vaucher. Kudos.

Recommended.

HUMANWINE:
http://www.humanwine.org/

Labels: Ashley vandiver, Courtenay vandiver, holly brewer, HUMANWINE, live music, mass exodus, mat mcniss, nathan greenslit, Paul Dilley, recorded, sepiachord

posted by HUMANWINE  # 1:49:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

07-05-08 Avast Comrades! July 5th, 2007 we decided that we should live in a bus that was converted to run off of people's wasted used veggie oil. one year and $8,043.00 later paint=$60.00 bus=$1,500.00 insurance=$300.00 brake lines=$40.00 registration=$350.00 6 new tires=$2,328.00 2 state inspections=$110.00 circuit brakers & flare kit=$40.00 brake drums, calipers & pads=$2,995.00 lights, light covers, wipers, mirrors=$320.00 People have donated wood, tools, screws, nails, the conversion kit, barrels, pressure sprayer, parking space, electricity hook up, sinks, stove, fridge, water heater, piping, distro box, cables, screen, blankets, steel, their time, money and use of vehicles/bikes to get us this far. Our bus needs a tune up before we can move forward. We need your help to see it through. Any donation that you can make is most appreciated. Our goal is to get this done in the next week so we can make it down to Boston for the 18th show. We estimate about $300 of work so it will probably be $400. Please help us out if you can by donating online We came up to N.H. to get our bus inspected and it passed with flying colours. We also came up because M@'s bro, Nate is gettin' hitched in the White Mountains Region on the 8th of July! Go Nate! We're very excited to come back to Boston on July 18th as openers for Squirrel Nut Zippers @ The Paradise; See information below. 07/18/2008 Paradise Rock Club 969 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215 617-562-8800 Doors @ 8:30pm 9:00pm - 9:45 Come Early! $20/18+ 8:00pm - doors open check out the tables 9:00pm - HUMANWINE (45 Minute set) 10:00pm - Squirrel Nut Zippers Recycled Movement www.nervousrelatives.com Our goal has shifted from a "plan" (that perpetuates a system of dependency which would only enslave & hide us) to a PLAN which allows HUMANWINE to speak to as many people as possible in the most independent, clean and self-sustainable way our current technology allows. Please donate to this RECYCLED MOVEMENT if you can. To the Krew: Gordon Corless, Al The Ninja, Jake Von Slott, David Dowling, Tom Porter, Max Cassidy, Nebraska, Jill, Maus & Josh Diers, Will Weiss, Maaak and many more for donating your time, energy tools & appliances. Sheri Anderson, Angie Brown, Jennifer Murphy, Ben Parson, Nicole Keane, Charles Hein, Sarala B., John Reimers, Bill Knighton, Uwe Schaefer, Barbara Goldman, Matthew Muise, Sarah Blackmore, Guillermo Briz, reAnimation Studios, Eben Holub, Bobby Masuret, Patrick Fitzgerald, Seth Maleri, Oedipus, Ron Nordin, Jerome Brewer, Chase & Barb McNiss, Sara Poisson, Terra Fredrichs, who have donated loot to Recycled Movement. LONG LIVE ART! RAH! RAH! word. holly & m@ Dr. Todd, 9-11 cover up, Zeitgeist , DemocracyNow! IMPEACH Bush and Cheney HUMANWINE.org , MySpace , WebLog , LJ , the61 Fighting Naked and mp3s also available through CD Baby, Napster, iTunes, PayPlay, Tradebit, GroupieTunes, MusicIsHere, Inprodicon, GreatIndieMusic

Labels: Adam Simon, Boston, holly brewer, HUMANWINE, live music, m mcniss, nathan greenslit, Recycled Movement, squirrel nut zippers

posted by HUMANWINE  # 4:54:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post