Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Muškat Hamburg
Label: FV Music
Release: 2007
Bold, biting, exhibitionist, snappy. Flinty Slovenes from the Prekmurje wine region, raised on the voluptuousness of boozy brews, a spirit their musical reach in no way denies.
For once, we Slovenes have gotten ourselves a cross between punk and rock n’roll in the new millennium too, and it thrashes with triumphant conviction. Even more important, the thrashing is fueled by hot young blood. The mad winemakers from Prekmurje roll along grinning from the first bar to the last, with an impressive knack for keeping up the high-flow directness that demands ignition at first sight and first listen. No detailed study under the monocle of magnifying glasses and other analytical disintegrators. Excellent glue between the choruses and pre-choruses in every single track, boozy, hoarse bawling in Prekmurje slang, backed up by mass shouting from the whole gang. The annoying lead vocalist stays in dominant, authoritative focus throughout. A genuinely raw, live sound preserved, the juicy garage-recorded rock n’ roll packaging.
With their debut “Uživaj pokončno”, Muškat Hamburg are a force that has fully justified its notorious paper reputation as hedonists, lawbreakers, gluttonous boozers, the most ruinous demons chasing female persons under the light of a full moon and, last but not least, unbending red sympathizers. Punk n’ roll fabulously dressed from head to toe in an authentic form of primal, ruinous rock energy that fires you up in an instant. Instead of Mati prihajam domov, with Muškat Hamburg it goes more like this: Banda prihajam domov. Nobody weeps with joy at that, because total wreckage is in sight! There’s no shortage of tomfoolery, and the boys even help themselves along with a wrecked cover of The Stooges’ I Wanna Be Your Dog, which in their mother tongue they simply titled Pjes! Ah, you poor dogs.
For all their painful rock n’ roll nuisance, the guys are playing first and foremost the card of pure tomfoolery. They add a pinch of glam to the directness, so the pointers toward Norwegians Turbonegro aren’t superfluous either, though personally I think exhibitionism and makeup-artist polish have no business in punk. But that tends to happen to a generation that can boast only post-punk production and recycling, since it will never be able to live a culture (R.I.P.). The cause lies in the EMŠO numbers, but that’s just how it goes.
“Uživaj pokončno” is an excellent 40-minute batch of 14 tracks that boast the aforementioned direct fluidity, genuine fiery energy and dirty, raw riff-rolling. On top of that, it’s a fascinating fact that the guys simplify their verses to the point where their utterly idiosyncratic, slang-riddled, worm-eaten Slovenian sounds melodic as hell. Perverse to the core. Watch your balls, because Muškat Hamburg don’t pick their targets when they hand out rock n’ roll kicks and slaps! An above-average release for Slovenia.
Lineup
Madam Fucker – vocals
Kuki Cold Eye – guitar
Otto Corporal Cutt-Butt – guitar
Sissy Pop(e) – bass
Bizga the Panzer – drums
Production
Aleš Dvorak
Tracklist
1. Manijak
2. Punči nocoj
3. Odpri oči
4. Delaj & papaj
5. Nekega lepega dne
6. Banda prihajam domov
7. Kongo
8. Pjes
9. Vse je vredi
10. 300 Miles
11. Rupurut
12. Ona
13. Denim Demon
14. Nicht hin
Album length: 40.05
