UV Race - I Hate You EP (Fashionable Idiots)
The UV Race are a 7-piece outfit hailing from Australia who fall on the weirder, dronier side of punk/hardcore. The first song on this self-titled EP, “Knife Fight,” is described by the band as a “snotty punk song with attitude,” and I’m inclined to agree. It’s steady, slow, and not particularly heavy, but the attitude in the vocal delivery make it easy to see how this band fits in with hardcore bands. Anyone who digs Bogus Machine could very easily get into this band.
The thing about the UV Race that particularly impresses me is the way they seem to capture the sarcastic, depressed attitudes of counterculture youth in Australia. It reminds me of the feeling I get from listening to The Streets, and of the way that music relates to British youth, though musically it’s hard to make that connection. Comparing a hip-hop artist to a punk band seems like a stretch, but I really think there is something there.
The EP contains explanations of what each song is about, but no actual lyrics, which I found a little disappointing. Personally, I prefer a band’s lyrics to be open to interpretation. If the band wants a stricter interpretation of their lyrical meaning, I believe it is possible to let the lyrics speak for themselves, but really, all this is just a personal opinion.
The insert says the band has a few other releases, which I’m eager to locate, as this release made a strong enough impression for me to want to hear more. Goodonya, mates!
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You can see UV Race live on Tuesday, September 21st at Strange Matter with Wasted Time, Southside Stranglers, Total Control (also from Australia), and Slugz.