Kid Commando - Holy Kid Commando
(Ache)
Though Kid Commando's first bit of real exposure stateside came from with the release of a split 7" with Arab on Radar, this link in discography isn't the only reason that the defunct Providence quartet are an obvious point of departure for the discussion of Kid Commando's music. The interplay of the Swedish trio's dual guitars is so steeped in the Arab On Radar tradition that, at times, Kid Commando could be a tribute band. The trebly, spaghetti riffs that twist throughout Holy Kid Commando aren't quite as hectic or unnerving as Arab on Radar's best work, but they are, without question, highly reminiscent of it. But since a fair and worthwhile investigation of any musical outfit is one done with a focus on the music at hand and not the band's supposed influences, Holy Kid Commando must be examined apart from further Arab on Radar comparisons.
Kid Commando's simple line-up of two guitars and drums creates stark and unadorned rock music, the kind that seems to be moving along smoothly before coming unhinged slightly, and rattling the rest of the way like a loose hubcap. Holy Kid Commando, however, is never without a rhythmic base and clear musical progression, despite any of the music's more intentionally "unrefined" facets. The insistent vocals are clear and clean, padded with reverb in most places, and can be a bit of an anomaly when combined with Kid Commando's music. The slightly affected style of the singing and its far more atmospheric feel sometimes clash slightly with the band's more tense, mechanical moments, but the rough/smooth dichotomy of both the texture of the fuzzy guitars and clean vocals and the differences in the style of delivery in each seems to be an integral part of the Kid Commando sound.
Holy Kid Commando is half strut, half smut, a musical mélange of the clean and dirty, and an interesting debut document from a band with a foot in two different territories. This is music made by blood, sweat, and tears, but then polished slightly (and somewhat ineffectually) to remove any of the more offensive stains.
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