Dry Rib – “Whose Last Trickle ” – [Hyped 2 Death]

Thurston Hunger   9/10/2008   A Library, CD

We got our first portion of Dry Rib on Messthetics #8, with
an amazing slice of “Alaska.” That cut is reformed here with
a sort of Devo-does-Reggae treatment, and it should be said
that version is actually by band “as, hem, syrup.” This CD,
like some versions of deities, comes in tripartite form. Three
beings in one release. But release is hardly the word for
Dry Rib and related Rob Vasey projects. He likes to take
the news and the noose, and tug them tighter. His voice
has tacks dancing on his tongue, and his guitar slithers
around like a jealous ex-boyfriend. His guitar work is
excellent, but finds its form best when offset against
Mike Mulhollands thick yet active basslines. Yes the music
is often angular, those were angular times. “Cruelty of
the Victim” however shows that careening off the angles
can provide a nearly danceable rhythm, then things stop
for a sing-songy chorus (kinda like the original “Alaska”)
that a near-stop spoken-choken word section. A track that
wanders like “In Ancient Persia…” a languid stray off
the rocks, with a flute drifting and viola scraping behind
is quite a nice departure. Meanwhile back “In the Woods”
Vasey defines morbidity for us, he didn’t need to use
the words, the music speaks volume. In general, Vasey’s
words are as captivating as his snarly voice. Dry Rib
has aged well as a seminal sample of seething 80’s UK
twisted art rock.

-Thurston Hunger