Time for a quick 4AD history lesson. Mass were formed
from the ashes of Rema-Rema by Gary Asquith, Mick Allen, and Mark Cox. After
recruiting Danny Briottet they released one 7" single and this full album
on 4AD. After this debut album Mass split into two halves - Asquith and
Briottet formed the dub legend Renegade Soundwave, while Allen and Cox remained
with 4AD for what would become their new project, The Wolfgang Press.
Back then, 4AD were one of the most interesting labels
around with bands like Cocteau Twins, Modern English and Xmal Deutschland.
Indeed, this album takes a lot of time and effort to sink in, but once it does
you will be amazed at the depth of this experimental postpunk band. The first self-titled
song lasts about ten minutes and drifts from avant-garde jazz to raw punk rock.
"Help is on the way", he grates desperately as if he didn't have any
sleep for three days. More feelings of insanity and angst are called upon in
two intermezzos called Why. As a whole all does not sound dreary however, Isn't
Life Nice is a happy chaos with bubbly bell sounds and some violins for good
measure. Well, happy in a hallucinating way that is, treading on the verge of a
bad trip... Creativity and despair, those are the main driving forces.
The very haunting Elephant Talk is an exciting piece of
music, flutes and bass slowly building up to a throbbing climax filled with
drums and screams. F.A.H.T.C.F. has that punk attitude of Killing Joke,
shouting slogans with a vengeance in a puddle of gloomy coldwave arrangements.
The album ends pretty much like it began a variation between arty jazz and
powerful postpunk. This is music where art plays a major role so if Virgin
Prunes are your cup of tea, you will probably like this too. Sometimes
difficult for the casual listener, but eventually oh so rewarding. A fine
testament to the exciting, early days of Post Punk and New Wave music.