Just how good were Dog Faced Hermans? Well, for starters, they were probably the second best post-punk/indie band that employed a trumpet as a main instrument (second only to Abilene, the most un-heralded band of the ’00s). They were also had the unique distinction of utilizing what might be considered the most unorthodox — nee experimental — instrumentation of any ’90s post-punk band. The Scottish quartet (who later relocated to Amsterdam) consisted of Mario Coutts on vocals, trumpet and bells, Colin Mclean on bass, guitar and steel drum (yawn!), Wilf Plum on drums, “scrap metal” and FOGHORN, and Andy Moor (of The Ex fame) on guitar, viola and — wait for it… — “hippo tube.” At least in this writer’s eyes (and mind!), Dog Faced Hermans were among the top two or three bands who ever recorded for the venerable Alternative Tentacles label. If you (like me) don’t much care for Dead Kennedys or Bad Brains, who could be better than the Hermans? Tragic Mulatto? Zeni Geva? Those would be my choice for the top 3 recording artists on the Tentacles roster.
Dean McFarlane at AllMusic wrote, “One of the few groups in the post-punk scene whose sound really benefits from a live recording, the explosive and improvisation nature of the Dog Faced Hermans is captured here on a collection of tracks from live dates in Germany, Holland, and the U.S. Recorded during the same time frame that produced their extraordinary studio album Those Deep Buds, the group reaches ecstatic peaks of instrumental prowess on the hard-hitting tracks “Hear the Dogs” and “Human Spark.” The band launches into on social/political diatribe on “Keep Your Laws Off My Body” and “Peach Warriors,” and turns to Anglo folk modalities on “Love Is the heart of Everything” and “The Bride Has Feet of Clay,” in more than one way echoing their counterparts the Ex. The live recordings lack the punch of the extraordinary studio albumThose Deep Buds, but makes up for it in inspired free-form improvisation.”
By the way, how do I own THIS on vinyl and not Hum Of Life? Odd, right?
Dog Faced Hermans
Bump And Swing
(Alternative Tentacles, 1995)
MediaFire DL Link
01. Hear The Dogs [MP3]
02. Peace Warriors
03. Viva
04. Love Is The Heart Of Everything
05. Transformation
06. Keep Your Laws Off My Body
07. Jan 9
08. Human Spark
09. Love Split With Blood
10. Fortune
11. The Bridge Has Feet Of Clay
