You’ve probably never heard of the Diagram Brothers, so here’s a fast breakdown: four English lads who took the last name Diagram; played punk songs you could dance to, with simple lyrics set to a musical formula of discordant chords only; they only put out one album and a handful of singles (all of which were collected on Brit label LTM’s reissue, Some Marvels of Modern Science); and they sound like a mishmash of Devo, The Jam, and Man…Or Astro-man? While only being active for three years, they were invited by John Peel just as many times to record Peel Sessions. This CD collects them all. What’s great about these Peel Sessions (and the sessions in general) is that bands only have a few takes before they move on to the next song, giving each track the sound of raw and live immediacy. The album tracks “Those Men In White Coats,” “I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today by Being a Right Git,” and “My Bad Chest Feels Much Better Now” sound angrier, slashier and more paranoid than the versions that have been floating about for years, which only leaves me thinking, “How would songs like ‘Atom Bomb’ and ‘Bigger Box’ sound if they were picked for Peel Sessions?” The biggest treat (besides essential versions of album and single tracks reworked) is the third Peel Session. It contains five songs, three original and two covers, that haven’t been released in any form before this. The feel of the final session is looser and more fun than anything I’ve heard by them. “Hey Dad” is a call and response between a teenage girl asking his dad for things that a teenage girl would want, and the father shooting down every request (putting it over the top, dad sings back opera-style). And by far, the best tracks here are inspired covers: the first being “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” from the musical Oliver!, replete with whistling and bouncy feel, it’s twisted into something that a droog would sing. The other cover is a completely hammed up-and-warped rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Wavering between a Nick Cave in the Birthday Party and drunken Elvis, it’s a total piss-take, and a window into a band that knew how to have fun. Essential. (LTM Recordings, www.ltmrecordings.com) Patrick Michalishyn
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989