Reviews of "Pink Bomb"
Ubercool indie label Cherryade release this debut EP from Manchester's 'Queen of queer punk'. And as Ric Rawlins reveals, it's a drum machine driven ride through some supercharged pop music...
The gay music scene is usually pigeon-holed somewhere between Minogue sisters, Riverdance DVDs and a glittery pair of gold lamé trousers. It's a cliche that Manchester's Ste McCabe is happy to casually piss all over with this, his debut LP of "kiss my ass" techno-punk pop songs.
In his photos he looks like the kind of guy that would glass you for dissing his football team, or perhaps play an Orc in a Lord Of the Rings sequal. And despite a slightly Ziggy-esque vocal affliction, his music is equally as cruel, unforgiving, and demonically fun.
It has the feel of an early Manic Street Preachers track, twisted with anger and propelled by fast beats...
It starts as it means to go on, by deflating prejudice. 'Huyton Scum' aims it's sniper fire at a 'hard nut' who can't understand why lesbians won't sleep with him, like the porno mags promised. It's a relentless pisstake that highlights the repressed double standrads of homophobes: "He don't like the queers, the queers make him sick / even the ones he forces to go down and suck on his dick."
Between pop songs and catchy choruses, things become notably darker with 'See You In Hell', which throws up imagery of burning churches, destroyed livers and the angsty chant of "Change the record!" It has the feel of an early Manic Street Preachers track, twisted with anger and propelled by fast beats.
McCabe jokes on the sleeve that people keep telling him to "get a proper band" - and it's true, this record sounds like it was an entirely solo effort. However, the lo-fi fuzziness has a kind of Red-Bull style shock appeal, and together with his lyrics go towards making a short, sharp bullet of a record. Mccabe is kicking against the pricks - and declaring homsexual cliches bankrupt.
Ric Rawlins for Artrocker.
T: Ste McCabe is Manchester's political queer pop-punkster. That's not me being homophobic; that's what it says in the press release. It's an appealing set of tunes not far removed from the idea of Plastic Bertrand performing songs by The Ramones. With an iherently gay twist of course. Highly amusing. In fact it's probably what Jilted John would have turned into if Graham Fellows had followed that persona through.
N: Makes a change from Erasure! It is probably the best thing we've heard all day (excepting of course the already familiar 'Juno' soundtrack). Steve's approach could be described as Marc Almond performs 'punk' and the lyrical content is both possibly biographical and quite refreshing for it. 8/10
Nick and Tone E for Atomic Duster.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2
STE McCABE – Pink Bomb EP (Cherryade) - Ste’s finest release to-date, his releases are always good – right back to the very home-made raw-as-hell Stephen Nancy demo days. “Manchester’s Queen of queer punk” heralded the Manchester Evening News – and how right they are – infectiously catchy ranting riot-boy punk pop and no hint of any compromise yet (we didn’t expect there would be!). Snarling sarcastic biting and homophobe baiting angry bite bite bite - “Pro-feminist, anti-church”. Angry pop music, not so angry that it isn’t fun though. He’s actually a Scouser, bit of a Holly Johnson voice (he’ll probably rage at us for saying that!), he’s got a missive chip on his shoulder – and we wouldn’t want it any other way, he’s a positive hero... and he’s got the sound and production nailed down just right now – a fine balance somewhere between raw lo-fi and studio polish. – imagine a one man ranting DIY queercore punk rock riot with a drum machine and a hint of Morrissey and a large slice of Buzzcocks or maybe a bit of Carter USM along with some Bikini kill/Vile Vile Creatures attitude and songs that just get inside your head and make you smile (well OK, they may not actually make you smile that much if you’re a Daily Express reading Tory homophobe or your name is Tommo).
Organ Zine.
SOUNDS LIKE?
Jilted John stalking Plastique Bertrand, flinging old Buzzcocks singles like ninja stars, every one bang on target. It's all fuzz, sparks, back-beats, casual, but loving and offensive stuff for the humour free.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
It beats the crap out of Billy Bragg for social commentary and it's well up to Matt Dangerfield post-punk pop standards, especially the gorgeous "Rant." So, really, Helen Love with her boots on.
Unpeeled.
Ste McCabe's new EP 'Pink Bomb' is out on Cherryade and quality as you might expect. 'Huyton Scum' is snotty punk pop, like The Toy Dolls with less twee vocals. 'See You In Hell' is like the final throws of punk and 'One Step Too Far' has a frazzled lurch about it, a bit like a slower version of early Pop Will Eat Itself. Short, sharp and to the point, just the way we like it.
Russell Barker for Russell's Reviews.
In an age where punk music has largely become watered down, commercial, chart-friendly and about as far removed from politics or real people’s lives as you could possibly get, it’s a relief and a joy to hear someone like Ste McCabe.
The brilliant ‘Huyton Scum’ is a witty, thrashing picture of someone of a racist, homophobic, sexist idiot, ‘Rant’ is about growing up as a homosexual in a small town, while ‘See You in Hell’ is a bile-spitting tirade against the hypocrisy and irrelevance of the church.
Manchester-based Ste McCabe is a proper punk, with proper songs, proper catchy melodies and Johnny Ramone style guitar.
While it seems that any band signed to a major record label that plays fast, loud power chords on guitar can be a ‘punk’ band, Ste has brought back the DIY ethic. Just him and a guitar and a drum machine can make a hell of a lot of noise and a hell of a lot more impact than a lot of the shite that passes for punk at the moment.
Chris Walker for Is This Music?
When I say 'talented gay Mancunian punk' you probably think of Pete Shelley from the Buzzcocks, right? He is, after all, one of the best songwriters this country has ever produced. Well from now on start thinking Ste McCabe as well. This guy is the business.
Let's examine some of his songs. 'Huyton Scum' sets about taking some homophobe to pieces with a series of terrifically incisive couplets that put you in mind of a young Terry Hall at his most sardonic: "He don't like the women cos the women are all sluts, although he's barely touched one cos he hasn't got the guts". And even better, "he don't like the Irish, he don't like the blacks, when asked to join the BNP he said 'what's that?'"
Lyrics and vocal delivery are certainly McCabe's forte, but it would be remiss not to mention his undeniable way with a tune. 'Rant', for example - a swipe at little Englanders and the more moronic aspects of footballing culture - has a very catchy chorus. And 'One Step Too Far' shows a nice bit of musical variation, rather reminiscent of the pop-punk of Carter (The Unstoppable Sex Machine) – a great band I'd completely forgotten about until now.
McCabe is hampered a little bit by the use of a drum machine (a live drummer might add the final missing ingredient to his sound) and the production is a little too straight down the line at times. But hey, who gives a shit really? This is great.
Lobster Quadrille.
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Cherryade Records