Death Sentence: Panda! / Fugu & The Cosmic Mumu [coll] – [Rock Is Hell Records]

Thurston Hunger   10/28/2010   7-inch, A Library

Death Sentence: Panda! ever-worthy of the exclamation mark,
helped KFJC stay young when we turned 50, actually released
this superb split before that artful party performance! `
“I Cut You” has the marching drum attack squada with flute
paratroopers reverbing in and sax squall-singing with glee.
The flip side is every bit as poisonally delicious. Fugu
& the Cosmic Mugu start with a nicemoping number in English
smoked vocals and a trumpet chaser for the melody. Couplets
of love forlorn with an ionizing chamber quartet feel. But
it adds in some death ray guitar transmission riffs too.
Their next track feels like Rube Waddells van breaking down
in a Kusturica film. Garbage can alley drums whip this
quicker number with lyrics marinated in a fine Italian
sauce, if not a true sauced Italian. Fan-fugu-tastic is
a cliche, but it applies here to this art-rock delicacy
served on a 7 inch platter. Mange and a bit mangy too!

-Thurston Hunger