Genre: Industrial Rock / Electronic
01. future girl (MXIII)
02. mr toad (remix)
03. so articulate (MXIII)
04. the line [third] (MXIII)
05. manson (Kilgore Trout)
06. SicFucker [mechanical] (Kilgore Trout)
07. Hole (MXIII)
08. the sound of contemplation (Kilgore Trout)
09. skinny [skin and bone] (Kilgore Trout)
10. behind the dumpster (MXIII)
11. [don’t cut y’re] knuckles (remix)
12. my evaluation (remix)
13. tree (Kilgore Trout)
14. haunted (Kilgore Trout)
15. expedition No 5 (remix)
16. the stain (MXIII)
The restraint I’m going through is nearly killing me. With a name like Kilgore Trout the temptation to throw in a fish related reference in the review is hard to beat. But here isn’t the plaice for such frivolity. Nor is the Kurt Vonnegut connection going to be explored because, basically, it's irrelevant to this recording. Though you could draw comparisons to the fictional author, Trout not Vonnegut, and this music if you were of the academic persuasion. Which of course I’m not. I wear my ignorance with pride. Next to my sexist values.
Kilgore Trout are one of those groups who most people have heard of in one context or another but who have not actually heard any of their releases. Their name being bandied about when talking of ‘cult’ acts. They are the perennial minnow swimming in the company of sharks. The press release accompanying this recording call them a mixture of Nine Inch Nails and The Residents. Let’s break this down a piece. Musically the sound is very Trent Reznor but with the enigma normally associated with The Residents. Kilgore Trout sound nothing like The Residents lest you flounder with this fact. The story of the band is full of red herrings such is the myth that has grown around them. Taking the theory of obscurity to its limit means that no-one knows the full names of the members of that group. As the various members lost interest in the project it was left to MXIII (MODEL 13 or Moldie 13 depending on who you believe) to retain the name and skate on with the musical vision he had for the group. Thus this timely release capturing the group and his / their unreleased material, new songs, remixes…and a cover of The Residents ‘Hello Skinny’…here renamed ‘skinny [skin and bone]’ don’t you know. Well you do now.
Blessed might be the new technology but it sure as hell makes reviewing a bit of a bugger. In the olden days you knew what instruments were being played on a recording. Today. Well either MXIII & Kilgore Trout are mega talented multi instrumental artists or he / they have the best computer programmes at their fingertips. I challenge anyone to tell whether those hot guitar licks are original, the smack downing of the percussion actually happening, or its just someone hitting computer keys and inputting various samples. Who cares. Not me. The only thing necessary is to get into the Kilgore Trout groove. Which is easily done. You’ll find no cod philosophy tarnishing proceedings. Just good old fashioned word play backed by tight in control rocking tunes. A breakfast of champions if you will. The more you listen to it the more the comparisons to Nine Inch Nails become valid…if Trent had ever gotten round to removing his head from his own arse that is. The employment of a dirt bag scuzzy effect to the guitar (?) parts does set it apart somewhat and gives the tunes where it’s used its own identity. Also the change in musical direction by including some eclectic electronic only tracks and some downright sleaziness again is a nice touch. Plus MXIII adds a brilliant shocking sample on the last track which is worth the price of the release alone. Did I mention the songs? All foot tapping excellent. My favourite being ‘[don’t cut y’re] knuckles’ which has ‘hit’ written all over it if ever a brave record executive had the balls to release it as a single.
This release isn’t my usual fair and to be honest I was worried about hearing it. Which even though I had heard the name Kilgore Trout floating around before they weren’t an act I had actually tried to listen to. Which was a mistake on my part. Ah well…you live and learn eventually. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. ‘Two Yards Low’ is great entertainment and a fantastic introduction to this band / artist. There are days when the pleasure of hearing well crafted songs accompanied by a rocking melody outshines all the depressing ‘dark ambient and noise’ that I’m usually to be found playing. This recording is made for just those days. The Trout has landed. Catch him whilst you can.
