(More) Bully For You

Here's another old BBC Oxford review, which I thought might be interesting as an alternate review of Trademark to that posted below, and Luke Smith surprisingly gets referenced too. OK, OK, I just picked it at random from the pile. The mystique has been shattered. Are you happy now?

The tone is very glib, but that was the style the editor wanted back in the day. Interestingly, I have reinstated some Knightmare references that the editor cut out, probably rightly. Also, Alternative Carpark were never heard of again in this fair town, so presumably 6 months did very little.

SCHMOOF/ ALTRNATIVE CARPARK/ TRADEMARK, The Bullingdon Arms

Onstage Trademark look young, intelligent, eager, and - let's be honest - a bit geeky, like the three lads who sat in the studio on Knightmare. Except they've got loads of synths. Elegant oscillator pop is what they purvey, in a classic Human League mould, but with some slightly more contemporary rhythm tracks: 1982 vs. 2003, in labcoats. A messy "What I Wanted", complete with random stylophone crackles notwithstanding, tonight's performance is exemplary, the beautiful "Sine Love" being the pinnacle.

They've had mixed reviews on this site recently, but to be honest they blew me away: Spellcasting D-I-S-M-I-S-S.

Aha, I've got your number, Alternative Carpark: the name comes from an old Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch about youth TV. Knowing this probably makes me a geek too: Spellcasting...

They perform some pretty effective metallic grunge, with Luke Smith's rockin' younger brother on (mighty fine) vocals, and a guitarist with all the Van Halen/Vai hammerons you could want...which is maybe slightly fewer than he played, but what the hell.

"Graffiti Foetus" (yes, honestly) is a good tune, as is the third one...I don't know the name, but I could make one up, if you want. "Blacklung Crackworm"? "Nazi Medicine Lecture"? The net result is entertaining, if somewhat 2D, and in need of a bit of honing. Let's see what 6 months can do for them.

Schmoof certainly get full marks for presentation: A name that sounds like sickly bear-shaped confectionary, some bright Spectrum loading screen projections, a mid 80s Swedish synthrocker and a lycra vixen all add up to shameless pop fun. Their songs, about chocolate, sex and disco dancing have some pleasingly prehistoric backing tracks, with beats as blocky as a Ceephax graphic, but I'm afraid the tricks, though well turned, get old swiftly, and the flat vocals eventually grate. Fun, but a band to see once only.

Schmoof's singer describes the night as a "synth-metal sandwich", which is true, but really, Trademark are the meat, Carpark a spicy relish, and Schmoof the slightly starchy bread.