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The Mardy Bums - "Who The Chuff Are The Mardy Bums?" |
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THEE SPC SAY
Limited edition (500 only). On heavyweight curious orange vinyl. In reversable sleeve.
What’s in a name? Well, certainly quite a lot for Sheffield four-piece The Mardy Bums. Since the quartet formed they’ve been the subject of ridicule, derision, hate mail and even the threat of physical violence, simply for naming themselves after one of their favourite songs. But the lads from the gritty Sheffield suburb of Dore are taking the fuss in their stride. With elements of Hefner , Half Man Half Biscuit, The June Brides and Teenage Fanclub in their sound, The 'Bums put an old style indiepop spin on "New Yorkshire".
A Selection of Reviews
The Mardy Bums were an imaginary band created as a parody/homage (take your pick) to the emergent Sheffield Scene of 2005/2006, as typified by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Milburn, Little Man Tate and Harrisons. Despite the fact that the band did not exist and were an art project of a satirical/comedic nature, the majority of the music media reacted to the 'band' with derision and scorn, (spectacularly missing the joke.) They also received hate mail & death threats.
The Mardy Bums recorded their single with Arctic Monkeys producer Alan Smyth, and played one 'gig' in disguise. Their single received radio play on both BBC Radio1, BBC 6Music and XFM. It was also listed as one of the single of the week at Rough Trade.
"Talent borrows and genius steals. Sadly, only a bunch of shameless chancers do piss-weak pastiches of the current band du jour. You really shouldn’t encourage them. I bet they look good in the dole queue." Sounds XP
"I really hate novelty records. I've got no time whatsoever for this." Faris of The Horrors in Kettle/Blackness shocker.
"I never thought I’d have to write this but Thee SPC has really fucking let itself down. For the last few years they’ve really made a mark in Sheffield by releasing a whole stream of ace and resolutely INDYPENDENT singles and albums by proper bands with proper songs and feelings that they have worked out all by themselves. But now they’ve apparently decided to cash in on the ‘New Yorkshire’ (bleurggh) scene and tried to find their own set of Arctic Monkey alikes to try and get the sort of gullible kids who watch TV and read the shitty music press and BELIEVE it all to part with a bit of dosh in the belief that they’re buying into something new. What makes it worse is that it’s such a fucking shoddy effort. Four lads? Check. (And one of them’s called pissing Tarquin). Sheffield accents? Check (except the moron singing sounds more like he’s from the Wirral). Songs about rowing with your girlfriend? Check. Any bloody good? No." Sandman Magazine
"If the sign of a successful spoof is wide-eyed acceptance by the target then The Mardy Bums have made their point with far more style than could ever have been imagined. The reaction to this broadside at the current music press vogue for anything with a Yorkshire connection has been nothing short of anger with, ahem, just about everyone. Arctic Monkeys fans have mailed death threats to the label owners which, along with posts on their forum along the "I don't think people will take them seriously with that name" lines, have only served to proove both the gullability and small minded views held by such types. On the other side of the spectrum the ponderous review websites cast their beady eye over this brilliantly DIY slab of orange vinyl and derided it as some puerile attempt at humour. Drowned in Sound attacking you? What was that saying again - "being savaged by a dead sheep" or something? In truth this is the indie equivalent of Chris Morris' greatest scams. When the Brasseye special parodied tabloid newspaper's over-reactions the resulting furore just left the writers looking smug. It's the same story here. Recorded by an as-yet-unrevealed band during some studio time the two tracks on this single are jangle pop in the Half Man Half Biscuit style. A dodgy attempt at a Sheffield accent on Put Wood In Hole recites a list of nonsensical phrases that, to the casual ear, don't appear out of place. That's until you start considering exactly what a "fuzz club slipper" is. Meanwhile the supposedly heartfelt b-side Does is Say Doormat On Me Back takes little over 2 minutes to dissect the trend for meaningless everyman lyrics. By constructing them with the worst 6th form poetry you're ever likely to be subjected to. Held together with some, surprisingly, very listenable tunes this is a great slab of pop culture piss-taking. Only one question remains; who the chuff ARE The Mardy Bums?" Incendiary Magazine
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