MaximumRockNRoll's review of my record.
I've been really curious to hear this Nepalese band since I read their interview in MRR #244. Read that engrossing interview, or just this EP's liner notes, to get an idea of the political climate in Kathmandu, where the non-democratic, oppressive monarchy is soliticiting anti-terrorist funds from the US and elsewhere to use against the ongoing revolutionary uprising of the Maoist peasant farmers. Rai Ko Ris pulls this situation out of the abstract and into your sphere of attention, with their jagged unaffected sound and their catchy-fresh songs. While they want to use this vehicle to distribute a little information, the songs aren't skeletal - they weren't written just to hold up the polemic. They're sturdy, awesome punk songs sung in voices you don't often hear: about the winter months in the Himalayas (Jairo Maina Ayo) and about the atmoshpere of dissent and change. The song "On the Bus in the UK", about singer Sareena being harrassed by Nazi skinheads, carries more pain and anger than a hundred theoretical rants against racism by white, western punk bands. I don't know how the Nepal/Florida connection came about, but this EP's cover art was done by Chuck Loose, go figure. Definitely, definitely pick this up!
(Arwen Curry)
I've been really curious to hear this Nepalese band since I read their interview in MRR #244. Read that engrossing interview, or just this EP's liner notes, to get an idea of the political climate in Kathmandu, where the non-democratic, oppressive monarchy is soliticiting anti-terrorist funds from the US and elsewhere to use against the ongoing revolutionary uprising of the Maoist peasant farmers. Rai Ko Ris pulls this situation out of the abstract and into your sphere of attention, with their jagged unaffected sound and their catchy-fresh songs. While they want to use this vehicle to distribute a little information, the songs aren't skeletal - they weren't written just to hold up the polemic. They're sturdy, awesome punk songs sung in voices you don't often hear: about the winter months in the Himalayas (Jairo Maina Ayo) and about the atmoshpere of dissent and change. The song "On the Bus in the UK", about singer Sareena being harrassed by Nazi skinheads, carries more pain and anger than a hundred theoretical rants against racism by white, western punk bands. I don't know how the Nepal/Florida connection came about, but this EP's cover art was done by Chuck Loose, go figure. Definitely, definitely pick this up!
(Arwen Curry)
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
chipawah:
You going to Busch Gardens? If so, drop me a line.
chipawah:
Don't blame ya. I'm still debating if I really need to goto BG or not. Just isn't any fun without people you actually know. You're out, Kyle's out, Trav is out.. Hell.. I don't need to know anymore people.. Hmm.. More women would be nice.. LOL only ones I know are already married!