A stoner’s delight, ‘Teeth, hair & Skin’ is the dark, dank, dirty debut effort from Red Kunz, the colossal meeting of minds between John Sherman and Aaron Beam (Red Fang) and Luc Hess and Louis Jucker (Ex-The Ocean collective, Kunz, Coilguns). A record that is so steeped in rock ‘n’ roll attitude and sweaty fervour that you’re liable to need a shower after listening, it comes packaged in a 7” plastic slip case alongside a newspaper-style insert featuring various arty pictures. Like all Hummus Records releases it matches style with content and there is no doubt that those folk who like their rock to positively exude decadence will find much to admire within these feedback-strewn pastures.
The album opens with ‘Transatlantic’, a song that sounds like a QOTSA demo recorded in a bathroom and loaded with more drugs than even ‘Feel good hit of the summer’ managed to allude to. It’s down-at-heel and awash with feedback and yet it’s also somehow both accessible and even (although I hesitate to say it) catchy. Think Kyuss, Red Fang and Fu Manchu and you’re in the right, bass-led ballpark and yes, it is as good as that description makes it sound. Next up, ‘the beggar’ comes cruising in on a creaky riff with the vocals seemingly recorded via megaphone. Awkward and arty there’s an element of Sonic Youth amidst this green-leaf fest that marks Red Kunz out from the crowd. On ‘four good reasons’ huge drones are torn asunder by ferocious, teeth-rattling drums and the band throw caution to the wind, giving a performance that recalls the electric energy of the Stooges in their prime, the musicians flailing at their instruments as if physical power alone could override the primitive recording gear. It’s powerful and passionate and it’s impossible to ignore, such is the insistent urgency of the performance. The LP is fast approaching its conclusion with the evilly hypnotic ‘prisms’, a claustrophobic mix of dangerously distorted bass and eclectic, intelligently arranged percussion and then we’re into the final track (already?!) ‘teeth hair and skin’, which rounds out the disc with six minutes of pure Sabbath-esque doom. Unleashed like Godzilla upon an unsuspecting populace, this closing track is also a highlight and it certainly leaves the listener wanting more from this most inspired of collaborations.
You know what you’re going to get when you see the Hummus logo: inspired musicianship, dirty riffs, bug-eyed insanity and incredible packaging. Red Kunz does not shuck this trend and the album will undoubtedly find favour with those who like their music dark, dirty and laden with groove. Lo-fi, fevered and infused with the purest spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, ‘Teeth, hair and skin’ is a beer soaked, nicotine stained rock record that will brighten even the dullest of days.
Find out more here: http://hummus-records.com/portfolio/red-kunz/
