Label: Blast FirstCatologue Number: BFFP 15
Format: LP
Date: 1987
Style: Hardcore, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental
Rating: 8/10
Reviewer: Sidney James
The Butthole surfers were never the straightest of bands, from their controversial name to their outlandish stage antics and their freaked out music. Previous albums Rembrandt Pussyhorse and Psychic, Powerless ... another man's sac had shown that the Buttholes were miles away from their contemporaries. Locust Abortion Technician we proving once and for all that the Buttholes were living in another world completely.
From the introduction to their cover of Black Sabbath's Sweat leaf (sampled to success on Orbital's Satan), you know that the Buttholes are about to take the listener on a journey through the acid confused minds of a group of Texan madmen. Sweat Leaf is actually the most normal sounding tracks on Locust Abortion Technician, in that it keeps to normal musical structure, even though in typical Buttholes style Gibby Haynes vocals are pitch shifted all over the place.
From there onwards the album plunges into narcotic fuelled madness. Found sounds are manipulated and distorted (Hay and Kuntz) too much comical effect. The bass sinks lower into fuzz and distortion and the guitars are reduced to Hendixian licks cart wheeling out of control. By the time you arrive at the final track 22 gong on 23 (a taped call to a radio station about a women’s abuse by her father) you have been sucked into a world of confusion. Feeling disorientated and a bit soiled by the perversion and psychedelic turmoil that the Buttholes have created.
Locust abortion Technician is a landmark because of this; never before had anyone really captured the sound of madness. The Buttholes take you there without even trying too and with no regrets. Buy this album because its better to regret something you has done than something you haven’t done.
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