|
Diesel Park West Thought For Food 0199 HYP |
 |
Q Magazine review by Nick Duerden - February, 2001
Perennially undervalued and unfashionable, Leicester's Diesel Park West
have spent
their musical career recreating the swirling melodies of Tom Petty and The Byrds to the
great indifference of the British public. Despite a promising start in 1989 with the robust
Shakespeare Alabama, they spent much of the subsequent decade falling out with record
labels who never quite grasped their oeuvre. Thought For Food finds them trundling
on ably, proudly playing on all their strengths: rousing choruses, plenty of artful musicianship
and vein-straining vocals courtesy of John Butler, a man who clearly has no intention
of giving up.
THOUGHT FOR FOOD
Diesel Park West
From Get Rythm, Issue 1, Feb/March 2001
Review by Jenny Parkin
|
This trio have been doing their jingly jangly West Coast thing since 1987, despite a handful of record company bust-ups, long term failure to command much attention from the press or the public; they're still ploughing on. It's all layers of six and twelve string guitars and proper lazy, hazy Summer melodies. Front man and songwriter John Butler's throaty vocals flutter above real musical workmanship. What it all lacks is surprise, invention or fashion, Thought For Food is compensated by sheer craft and attention to detail. There are shades of The Byrds and The Beach Boys, of course, but also in rockier moments - The Who. They're wry and whimsical like XTC, Robyn Hithcock or The Lilac Time. Stand-outs are the joyful Fabulous Child ("star crossed and wild"), an insanely catchy song which presents the 90's urge to run barefoot and tangly-haired throught a copse, and You Saint Catherine, more of the same really |
Diesel Park West's
Thought For Food
Revolutions, March 2001
Review by DM
|
Just as Diesel pollutes the air we breathe, so Diesel Park West seek to pollute the often sterile, self-limiting world of rock and roll with dangerously high levels of imagination. This possibly explains why the band is something of a high respected cult as opposed to the megastardom of the world of poodle rock. Definitely true to their nature, DPW's resilience is captured beautifully on the ballsy, endlessly upbeat Fabulous Child. There is a touch more resignation to the nonetheless punchy Marionettes - neither a tribute to the cast of Thunderbirds nor a song about John Wayne cheerleaders team, by the way - but the idea of staying true to yourself comes through in John Butlers lyrics. "Marionettes (ah! expert advisors) / Marionettes (conscience dividers)" seems especially topical given the demise of spin'meister Mandy. Also showing fine timing, although hardly with the easy sentiment that sells cards and candy, is Valentine Why? An altogether less complicated but devoted relationship, that between cavalryman and horse, features in Forever Partners (Balclava 1854). A superb lyrical number, it catches in strong vocals - lead and backing alike - and urgent chords the essential dependence between man and beast amid the incompetence and horror of the Crimean war.(Quick note: check out Cecil Woodham Smith's "The Reason Why" to find out more - one of the most brilliant and accessible history books ever written.) The bouncy Back In The Box has a feel to it that's reminiscent of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash and Young, while The Big Surprise conjured up late period Beatles for me, but Diesel Park West are their own men, and all the better for that. |
DIESEL
PARK WEST - THOUGHT FOR FOOD
The Music Scene by Bob Cianci
The River Reporter -
October 26, 2000
| I
championed the music of Brit-rockers Diesel Park West a couple years
ago in this column. Since then, DPW has stripped down to a three piece,
still spearheaded by the rhythm guitar, lead vocals, and songs of John
Butler, one of England's best unsong songwriters. Butler's material is
influenced strongly by American 60's bands like Moby Grape , The Byrds,
Buffalo Springfield, and English rockers The Rolling Stones and The
Who. Thought For Food is
slightly poppier than their previous release HIPReplacement, a bold, angry attack
on the vagaries of the music business. Butler's melodic sense is well
developed and there's no denying his rocking side as well. Thought For Food may not establish Diesel Park West in America, but
who knows? It's available only as an import disc from
Hypertension Records, St. Benedict St. 5, D-20149, Hamburg,
Germany, www.hypertension-music.de My highest recommendation. Diesel Park West is a great rock
band, a rare commodity these days, and it's well worth your time to
special order Thought For Food. |
Diesel Park West
Images Reviews Guestbook Links