Back Magic’s “Blood Plaza” is not your typical Pilgrim Talk outing,
delving into white-blue deep-fuzz with boombox recording and
trashed-out crash cymbals that dominate the mix when wet. If Lou Barlow
is lo-fi, I’m not sure what to call this; shit-fi doesn’t seem gritty
enough. Devil-fi? A scrappy effort though, pressed onto the oddest lil’
5-inch lathe-daddy you ever done seen. I think of Moldy Peaches, Zumm
Zumm, and Icky Boyfriends, and muse, “Wow, remember when things were
clean?” Once again, we’re left to wonder: How much lower-than-fi can
self-recorded rock get? Back Magic make early GBV sound like “We Are
the World.” This band was seemingly invented to be the exact
counterpoint to Buckcherry, the lowest, dingiest scum imaginable. Yet
cute, too.
Auxiliary Out (Drew Dahle)
August 2013
Back Magic - Blood Plaza [Pilgrim Talk]
Basement scuzz jams from this brotherly duo. The first side of this
CD-sized 5" lathe cut features two takes of the title track, a straight
ahead rocker. You can check it out below. I doubt it's intentional but
there are a couple rad locked grooves on the first side of my copy. The
first side is not the reason to buy this however, that would be the
b-side. "Cough Syrup Buzz" is fucking awesome! Seriously fantastic punk
track, monstrously catchy riff, bitchin' palm mutes and devil may care
attitude to spare. Absolutely killer to a ridiculous degree! I hope
this track makes it on to a more widely available release, it should be
heard! Classic!
For the time being though, you can nab the limited lathe here. I do
have to say that lathe cut is probably the perfect format for the
rugged hairiness of the Back Magic sound.
