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Rating:
Dog. Gorilla. Snake.
This record has the loyalty of a dog.
Loyal, because it manages to stay on the splendid tracks that had already characterized the previous releases of their self-titled debut (2000), "Troncomorto" (like the district of Padua where they were born and raised, 2002), and the fabulous "Amazing!" (2005). It is a simple work, stripped to the bone: guitar/drums (no bass) and a rhythm that cuts, slashes, pushes, pulses. Post-punk tinged with hardcore accelerations, very short tracks, terrifying shots lasting two minutes-two and a half minutes at most, if not less, to be experienced in one go to feel the power under the skin. (Essential) lyrics in English, mangled as best as possible, with a pronunciation that may be flawed, but is filled with a vigorous and fiery cyclicity. A trap from which there is no escape, and frankly, one that cannot be easily renounced. Ten tracks for a total of twenty-five minutes.
Loyal, because it is circular: it starts with an intent and concludes with the completion of the same. Urgent down-tempos, riddled with drumsticks, find their end in urgent down-tempos, riddled with drumsticks ("Atmosphere"). Consistency to the point of nausea, but nausea is the last thing that could arise, except for boredom: electronic inserts that gurgle and evaporate, revealing hordes of riffs ready to unleash ("Everybody"). No explanation, no complication: could it be otherwise? "You stay up, you stay down, don't make me nervous/ Go straight up to the door, you know the answer".
This record has the might of a gorilla.
Behind the skins, there isn't a man, there isn't a drummer: there is Matteo Di Lucca, a gladiator. One who doesn't like to leave the last word to others. And he seizes every opportunity to make it clear to the listener. Every hit on the drums is a declaration, an intent of war, a bayonet assault: as long as things go well. Other times, instead, the drumstick turns into a panzer, ready to fire, only to accelerate second by second in a convulsive and muscular finale (the tribalisms of "Beastie"). Or, here comes a nervous guitar base rich in stop & go (did someone perhaps say Fugazi? Yes, correct) that is bombarded by an army of entirely autonomous paradiddles, an uncontrollable percussive invasion, fast and ferocious, for old-time pyrotechnics ("The Kingdom Rules", the best of the lot). A presence that not only exhales robustness but also a certain degree of inventiveness and regularity, among the six strings that puff and moan as they chase each other (the self-ironic "Help Me!", with blacksmith-like beatings). I've got an enemy in my shoes, too.
This record has the speed and intelligence of a snake.
It amazes how the Redworms' Farm, in the minimal mix of their now established formula, can still always insert new external elements that give a bit of color to the final identity. The three like to diversify, even though they're often not allowed much, as happens in "Devo", half-tribute to the hapless American band of the '80s and the other half a slightly limp electro-funk track, on the trail of Atari and Disco Drive. But surely you cannot easily lose heart: the beautiful "Forty Two" - a quote taken directly from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams - is a hissing duel between the two guitars under the compulsive dictate of "hitchhiker's guide", with sax (played by the excellent Manuel Fusaroli) and trumpet inserts pruning a hint of catharsis at the end. "Rhythm Is A Dance", they sang a few years ago, now they might say something that resembles "Rhythm Is (A) Law". Even better is "Less Is More", super fast and crackling post-hardcore between Jesus Lizard and Sonic Youth all in crescendo, crowned by the vocoder, or "Kill My Brother", an extremely edgy garage-funk supported by an earth-shaking riff.
Finally, dog, gorilla, and snake meet, look at each other, and reunite in one single zoomorphic image. They greet us, compact and determined, with "Whatever For Us" where, clearly, they indicate "Dig in the underground, we wanna stay in the underground/ Things can be dangerous, we wanna stay in the underground" - underground, understood, as hinterland, not as an independent scene - and in the meantime, rhythmic and guitar sections whirl and pound more than ever.
Dog is Pierre Canali who plays guitar and vocals. Gorilla is Matteo Di Lucca who plays drums and vocals. Snake is Marco Martin who plays guitar and vocals.
"Dog Gorilla Snake", Redworms' Farm, A.D. 2007. They are returned, ready to R.O.C.K.
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