Mx-80 Sound
Out Of Tunnel

THE REVIEW

MX-80 Sound are part of the "underground" bands of the new-wave scene. Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, in 1978 they settled in San Francisco, welcomed to their label Ralph by the grand and forward-thinking Residents, under whose aegis they released this "Out Of Tunnel." It was the year 1980.

Their rock sounds dissonant, heavily focused on the distortions of leader Bruce Anderson, bolstered by a syncopated rhythm section, with a nervous and inconsistent pace, and a truly memorable saxophone by Rich Stim, bizarre and odd, perfectly at ease in the noise-laden atmosphere of the record.
Take for example the opening track It's Not My Fault, a bass with an incredibly powerful groove stands out to accompany Anderson's heavy distortions, both forced to chase a drumming that is at times "motoristic" (Neu...), at times schizoid (Feelies...).
Theirs is an extremely degraded rock, strong in an essential experimental component, and a sick mood typical of the new wave (and especially of the San Francisco scene, see Chrome and Tuxedomoon).
Stim more than sings, he declaims and one often encounters muddy and disorienting choruses as in the case of Frankie I'm Sorry a true masterpiece of sonic destabilization, of terrifying neurosis, monstrous bass, and the "noise" guitar at the brink of a nervous breakdown.
The beautiful Gary And Priscilla is perhaps the most experimental episode of the album, boasting a fragmented rhythm beyond belief and a layer of frightening dissonances, particularly towards the end where the sax seems like an annoying amplified mosquito.

If you're looking for something truly "alternative," if you love experimentation and new wave but, most importantly, if you appreciate masterpieces, get it. It will reward you with a bit of a headache and much satisfaction.