Album Review: Screaming Maldini - Kookaburra Sings
- Written by Rosie Dow
Imagine Scouting For Girls built a time machine that took them back to around 1984. Once there, they stole The Smiths’ youthful spirits and creativity, then returned via 1992, where they had a tutorial in time signatures from Dream Theater and a magic lesson from Paul Daniels. Are you still with me? If so, then you have a good idea of what to expect from Screaming Maldini’s ‘Kookaburra Sings’.
In general I have a natural aversion to the words ‘juxtaposition’ and ‘fusion’, but I am struggling to find any better words to describe the sound Screaming Maldini make. The vocals are most definitely indie but the pristine production, brass and synth give the whole thing a very poppy, ska-like feel. And then you get the prog thing. The odd time signatures (usually 5 or 7 beats in the bar) and bizarre chromatic circus-esque key changes, along with some rather zingy keyboard sounds, conjur up an image of a band as fascinated by dungeons and dragons as they are by rock n roll.
There is a good deal of proficiency here and it’s to be respected, as is Screaming Maldini’s drive to create something genuinely unique. The mania of ‘Secret Sounds’ and ‘The Extraordinary’ is arresting, in a good way, and you find yourself tapping your foot (if you can keep time) and getting carried along quite nicely. ‘The Albatross’ is the token slower, atmospheric tune and is has a haunting female vocal that is rather pleasing. ‘Miniatures’ is the most ‘proggy’ track on the album, but also has some really catchy hooks and a synth-reggae breakdown in the middle where they sing about ships. And then there’s the uplifting ‘I Know That You Know That I Would Wipe The Snowflake From Your Eye’. It’s the longest song title in the world… what’s not to like?
The risk Screaming Maldini run with straddling so many genres is in alienating them all – it’s all a bit weird for commercial mainstream tastes but is not broody or messy enough for the Emo indie fans and yet is probably too indie for the ska subscribers. I therefore can’t see Screaming Maldini rushing to the top of the charts any time soon. However I’d definitely buy a ticket to their gig: if they have half the energy on stage as they put across on ‘Kookaburra Sings’, it’d be a good show. Now where did I put my pink wizard hat?