There are not many albums that are recorded in only eight hours, and even fewer where that constraint seems to work to the group’s advantage. However, Opposite Sex have spewed out a wonderfully spontaneous album that boasts a scuzzy ramshackle charm and oozes a woozy youthfulness.
Sitting somewhere between oddball pop and disjointed 1970s No Wave, the album is experimental without being alienating and embracing without being sickly. Although, the album’s opening statement ‘Sea Shanty’ plays out just like its title suggests - all underwater affinities and tropical, nauseous guitars, evoking comparisons to Marc Ribbot’s style of playing.
As the album trundles through in wonky fashion, it starts to develop a real personality, almost as if the sonic waves erupting are forming as characters themselves. The music is gloriously playful and unfastened in its style, yet there is a tautness and clear musical ability in the hands of the performers that makes this more than the tossed-off affair its eight hour creation suggests.
The band's singer Lucy Hunter was once a cohort and band member of recent New Zealand export Connan Mockasin. The more psychedelic leanings are trimmed up here though; there are no superfluities or flab to this record - only one song breaking the four-minute mark - just a flow of short stabby bursts of eccentric, eclectic pop music.
‘Vague Notion’ is a chugging burst of fuzz-pop that feels like it could have been on either Marquee Moon or Wowee Zowee; it contains an oddball charm and charisma that somehow seems to be placeable in any decade. The sweet, delicate and often reserved vocals of Lucy Hunter are often offset to manic bursts of male shouting, such as the infectious and piano-led ‘Master/Slave’. ‘Got to Eat’ is delightfully manic, all melodic throbbing bass and twisted, angst-ridden guitar stabs, a complete post-punk affair but with a snarl and poisonous edge to it - like The Pop Group but fronted by Birthday Party-era Nick Cave.
This is a record that - like many - randomly arrived in my hands with no previous knowledge or contacts associated with the band. However - unlike many - it happens to be great. It’s a debut album that contains all the elements you desire in a first outing - it’s fun, youthful and successfully manages to distill the spirit and essence of a band's intent. There is a ferocity and intensity here captured in eight hours that some would strive for after months in the studio.