THE JAN MARTENS FRUSTRATION
Self-titled (Hidden Agenda/Parasol)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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A fan of mind-melting garage-psyche will know by the end of the first minute of "Convolutions" if The Jan Martens Frustration is their electric tea or not. The song, second on the disc, pretty well typifies what they do, and what they do they do quite well. The JMF approach calls for a simple but heavy bass line on which to build a growing cacophony of echoing guitars, busy drums and echoey vocals. They have it down, and they really do know how to create a dark vibe with a powerful, propulsive rhythm. It all has that extra something that Swedish bands seem to bring to garage punk that nobody else has. Like their fellow Gothenburg artists, Division of Laura Lee and Soundtrack of Our Lives, they seem to be able to supercharge simple riffs and create some real tension and excitement. A band worth keeping track of.

© 2005 - DJ Johnson