True ambition in the tape world? Well, it’s not unheard of but I’ll be damned if I’ll take it for granted when it shows up on my doorstep. And despite my distaste for at least one of its previous releases, there’s something about this Kinnta label; they put in that extra BLOP that I need from a tape imprint. They get behind their releases and never skimp on the deets. For example, it’s the mid-80s and I’m about to throw in a Crüe cassette on (all the good older tapes were white back then, remember that?), or at least it feels like it because I can read all the song titles off each side. Believe it or not that’s somewhat rare. Anyway, I might be stalling a bit because I don’t know what to do about one-half of this split tape (technically called A Fair Pair), Haiduks’ 1968. It breaks all the rules and gets away with it, and… GOOD GOD, how many awful vinyl releases have I heard, costing thousands of dollars, and1968 is one-half of a double tape? Well, the rich kids always will be able to press up their shitty band’s vinyl, but they’ll never rock as confidently as a group like Haiduks. This is full-ensemble shit, too. Some will chalk this up to the 60s, and I will again call that a cop-out. Just because an album has a bit of psych-groove to it doesn’t indebt it to the flower-child decade, at least not anymore. I grew up in the 80s, as mentioned, so I’m sick to death-dick of hearing about the 60s. FUCK the 60s. It’s 2014 now and we’re all feeling healthy and free and loving and we don’t feel the need to put a label on it because then Coke/Cola would get ahold of that shit. This is ours. I just wish I knew what the hell it was. You’ll never be so glad to hear a wonky sax solo, nor bask in one man’s progressively beautiful vision. But WAIT: Lest we forget, this is a split tape. What about Einar Jullum’s half, Hjerteknuser- Og Andrew Blues? Man, it’s awesome too. It’s got a bluesy backbone — might be the only time I’ve ever used that phrase to compliment an artist — and guitar parts that snap into place so perfectly it’s almost suspicious. Fun in an innocent way too, to be enjoyed like those words you used as a kid before you realized the sexual connotations (i.e. ‘moist’), all whirling flutes and sky-lit roots rock that somehow doesn’t suck azz like most roots rock intrinsically does. Makes bands I truly enjoy like The Boggs seem nondescript; RELOAD, INDIE ROCKERS, because these two bands just ate your lunch and licked their oily fingers to the bone. As with truly remarkable food, it’s almost a shame to lose this tape to the process of critical digestion. Because there’s a slight chance I’ll file A Fair Pair away and forget about it, display due diligence and seek this one out and/or press it onto infinity-gram wax.
More about: The Haiduks / Einar Jullum
