The Breakdown
Sacred Cowboys have been – and still are – a legendary bunch of misfits together in various forms since 1982, but always with Garry Gray as a mainstay at the reins along with Mark Ferrie. They essentially began in 1982 as a supergroup with Gray from seminal new wave outfit Negatives and Ferrie from the Models. Purloining the band name from Get Smart and the Groovy Guru, the Cowboys left the Countdown set with guru Molly Meldrum announcing that they were … the worst band I’ve seen in 5 years…A clear indication of how good they are.
They are back with a vengeance with their new album ‘In The Manifesto’, and replete with thundering cowbells and a sneery louche delivery, it’s business as usual as they delivery a hard rock lesson in cool.
Opening tracks ‘Kool Aid On The Rocks’ and ‘Pieces of Eight’ show that for all the sneery arched eyebrows and menace, Gary and his cohorts know how to write thrashingly good melodies.
‘Failsafe’, ‘Split’ and ‘Dream Catcher in the Rye’ prove the band is capable of melodic and atmospheric subtly and restraint with touches of Velvet Underground and Tom Waites, while ‘Matador’ goes to the other extreme with its punky Birthday Party-esque thrash and barbed-wire abrasiveness. Gray’s delivery resembles a demented preacher on a blazing pulpit.
‘Ambient Brain’ has a sixties/Dylan-esque jangle with delicious harmonies and redolent at times of the late great Ron S Peno from Died Pretty. ‘Cosmic Circus Escapees’ does what it says on the label: a manic cavalcade of madness:
‘The Psychedelic Shooter’ prowls like a caged tiger over a rumbling bass and scything guitars, Gary’s vocals cracking with intensity.
Throughout the album the Sacred Cowboys display a cathartic output of feedback, fuzzy guitars and indie pop sensibilities but inject enough tender melancholy and humour to create a multi-coloured pallet of sound. This sounds as bright and energetic as anything the Sacred Cowboys released in the eighties: a marvellous testimony to my oft stated comment that creativity has no use-by date.
‘In the Manifesto’ is released in Australia by Torn and Frayed Records and in Europe through Beast Records France, there are only hard copies available (vinyl and CD) so you’ll have to search this gem out at your favourite record store and at live gigs along with precious merchandise.
‘In the Manifesto’ was mastered by Mikey Young, who worked on the last six Mark Lanegan records and plays in Eddie Current Suppression Ring. All new songs are written by Garry and the band.
Sacred Cowboys will be launching the album on 14 February at The Tote in Melbourne – details below.
demented preacher on a blazing pulpit.. i love that!