Song of the Day: The Clean – Point That Thing Somewhere Else

In 1981, Roger Shepard started Flying Nun Records in Christchurch, New Zealand. He initially wanted to release music by local Christchurch bands, but Shepard’s great success was releasing the music of Dunedin bands, like The Clean. The Clean were without a doubt the most influential band Flying Nun signed. Steven Malkmus of Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and Jay Reatard all site The Clean as a major influence. Their first single “Tally Ho!” and following EP “Boodle Boodle Boodle” set the template for the Dunedin Sound, which would become the dominant style of Kiwi Rock for the next decade.

This track, “Point That Thing Somewhere Else” is the 5th and final track off of The Clean’s 1982 EP Boodle Boodle Boodle.  The EP was recorded in a bedroom on a 4-track recorder, and like all on the EP this track has a distinct lo-fi sound. The driving, scuzzy guitars and simple drum beat propel the track forward into a five plus minute long hypnotic jam. Drummer/vocalist Hamish Kilgour’s quiet vocals float above the guitars and drums for the first half of the track, which gives way to the fuzzy, tight, and atmospheric riffs David Kilgour wails on. This track is a beast, balancing gracefully on the edge of total guitar freakout and amphetamine-fueled jangle pop a la The Feelies. So give it a list and take in some southern hemisphere sounds.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

css.php
%d bloggers like this: