Gyrate Plus

Pylon's first album, although it doesn't contain masterworks on the level of the first single Dub or the later single Crazy, is considerably more consistent than the comparatively spotty Pylon!! and Chomp. This is Pylon at their purest, mixing the spartan angularity of the Gang of Four with a playfulness missing from similar U.K. bands like the Au Pairs or the early Mekons (or indeed from the Gang of Four themselves) as well as the irresistible danceability of their Athens, GA, compatriots the B-52s. Yet Pylon never quite sounded like anyone except Pylon; their nanve instrumental style -- guitarist Randy Bewley claimed that he didn't even know the names of any notes or chords -- and singer Vanessa Briscoe's inimitable voice (moving from a flirtatious coo to a Meredith Monk shriek in the space of a line) and inscrutable lyrics are so idiosyncratic that they probably couldn't sound like anyone else any more than another band could tackle a Pylon song. (Remember the botch R.E.M. made of Crazy?) Highlights here include the spirited opener Volume, the evocative instrumental Weather Radio (probably the prettiest song on the record), and Briscoe's impassioned Feast on My Heart. Later pressings of this album replace the first track on side two, Driving School, with Recent Title. Both tracks are available on the 1989 compilation Hits. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide