PSYCHOTIC TURNBUCKLES – Destroy Dull City Anthology

Shane | 23 April 2013 | Reply

Citadel Records 2 CD set
Released 22 March 2013
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9/10

Fuzzed up, scuzzed out psych rock from the wastelands of early 80’s Sydney (or California, depending on which bio you believe), The Turnbuckles ran rings around this country for several years, dragging their rock n’ roll wrestling belts and Ushanka-sized ultra wigs with them as they plied their madcap big dumb fun rock which was equal parts Iggy’s Stooges, San Francisco’s Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, and Australia’s own Radio Birdman and Masters Apprentices.

Acid tinged, wrestling themed, surf-loving rock gorillas, it’s no wonder The Turnbuckles’ appeal remains at a cult level, but thanks to Citadel Records this anthology collects their Destroy Dull City EP from 1986 and Beyond The Flipout album from the following year, alongside a plethora of singles and B-sides, special one-offs and even a clutch of out-takes and unreleased demos, plus two live tracks from a rare December 2012 Sydney show.

Big dumb fun these contempories of The Hoodoo Gurus, The Hitmen et al may be, but the 46 songs here hold up well and provide a couple of hours of nostalgia for those who were there first time round, and raw excitement for any newcomers. With highlights galore, it’s enough to say that if garage or psych rock is your bag, then you will quickly find Destroy Dull City assuming pride of place in your CD collection.

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