I have some vivid memories of that time in the mid-1990s when the electricity would go off for a few hours every night and my dad would play “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals on his acoustic guitar. The Bulgarian state had exported most of its electricity to other countries in exchange for stable Western currencies to save a crumbling economy, while people desperately searched for candles or lamps on rechargeable batteries. It was a time of hyperinflation, empty grocery stores, and living in a panel block built in the 1970s for the needs of the military.
It was a long time ago, and I hadn’t listened to the song until I was reminded of its existence by the Danish band Slytter, who have included some classic references to “House of the Rising Sun” on their latest album, Et Slytter Liv. Slytter is indeed a strange animal, as they play a twisted form of garage punk and ‘90s grunge. The nine-track album has a distinct lo-fi vibe and is a bold statement against slick production, recorded in the band’s rehearsal room on a Tascam 424 portable recorder.
The album sounds raw and distorted, and the band relies on repetitive droning guitars and weird screams on some of the songs. I was actually worried that the tape on the fifth track “Bølgemanden” was wobbling, but then I checked out the song on Bandcamp and realized that’s how it’s supposed to be. All the songs are in Danish with no lyrics or translations printed, so I have absolutely no idea what they are singing about. In a short note that came with the tape, Slytter wrote that they don’t really have many fans in Denmark, but they have been well received at shows in Norway. This tape is not my usual type of thing, but I’m sure it might appeal to some fans of garage punk. It’s not hardcore, but still loud, dirty and with a punk attitude.
