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This 12" pairs New Zealand's The Dead C with Congo's Konono Nr. 1. Unfortunately, the Konono tracks are only slightly different versions of the first two songs from their recent Congotronics album, "Lufuala Ndonga" and "Masikulu." According to Fat Cat, these are the "original mixes done by Vincent Kenis when he recorded them in Kinshasa." Listening to the two versions back-to-back, it's hard to tell much of a difference; the sound might be a little more bright - a little more like a live recording - but that might be more the vinyl than the mix. The other side of the 12" are the first new The Dead C recordings I've heard in a few years, and it's a real grab bag. The side opens with five lock grooves of guitar noise. After you get your needle past those, there's one studio track and two bootlegged live tracks. The studio track is classic The Dead C. The song starts with very overt rock drumming and churning squalls of guitar noise. After a few minutes, Michael Morley's vocals come in, and the song falls apart, turning into a free flowing river of sonic sludge. The two live songs are from an August 2003 live show in New Zealand. The first is filled with spacey, high-pitched feedback; the second has more drums and rocks a little bit more. The EP is worth owning for The Dead C side alone, but it's disappointing they couldn't unearth something more from Konono.

Dead C at Amazon & Insound