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Sergeant Buzfuz

High Slang

Label: Blang

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If there was a competition for silly band names then Sergeant Buzfuz would most certainly be up there amongst the best. Not only that, but they'd have a decent shot at silliest track names as well ('Go Hoot, Owl Lady', 'Mothership Zelda', '-itis'). In fact they would have a decent shot at bizarrest everything going.

So where do we start? 'My Drinking Friends' is a reminiscence on well, drinking, that is resplendent with tin whistle and probably a Bodhràn. Celtic in feel but nevertheless rebellious, are this lot a bunch of closet anti-folkies? Well with, 'Here Come the Popes Part 3' the Celtic feel is definitely continued, intermittently sounding like Bob Geldof and seemingly singing "Here come the pogues", whilst regaling the indiscretions of the papacy. 'In The Back Of My Cab' follows suit, edging closer to Ian Dury than his Irish highness, as the world of celebrity unfolds in the back of a cab. Well that’s their box sorted then. Er…until 'Mothership Zelda' kicks off. "Welcome to Mothership Zelda…We are circling Earth at a rate of 300 girometers a minute" entones an announcer over an imaginary tannoy.

'Go Hoot, Owl Lady' cranks up the pressure further, almost removing words entirely. Full of looped effects, digital beats and the occasional "slang", this is a moonscape of echoes and effects. Not unlike, 'Kisses from the Sickbed' that manages to have no words at all (until 30 seconds from the end). Normal service is seemingly resumed, with 'Cockney Rebel', 'Here Come the Popes Part 2', 'Here Come the Popes Part 4' continuing the punk-folk (anti-papal) feel.

Perhaps the fact you can't categorise them is the very point (who else would put a Jimmy Saville impression on a record?). Rebellious punk-folk-pop (or whatever) can do what it likes, as long as it has something to say. Sergeant Buzfuz definitely do whatever they like and they definitely have something to say. Endearing and compelling, you may just have to listen to this yourself. - Matt Coxon