Albums by this artist

Presocratics Serve Imperialism (2001)

Presocratics

Presocratics Serve Imperialism

---

» JOHN KNIGHT | STAFF WRITER

Presocratics Presocratics Serve Imperialism Table Of The Elements, 2001 RiYL: Gate, Richard Youngs, John Fahey

Who are these guys? Why hasn't The Wire put them on the cover? Where did they get that nice little alarm clock on the cover?

The Presocratics must have read up on their Earl Weaver as they juxtapose the three tracks on this record in a manner that puts runs on the board in bunches. Somehow, from an old and damaged AC/DC record, they cull an abrasive but terribly welcome opener ("Nestor Mahkno Discovers America/Pig Latin") that falls into a tasteful exercise in atmosphere ("Red Democracy (Schizophrenia Is No Moral Victory)").

Juxtaposed at the end of the occasionally jarring and often fleeting leadoff duo, their singer-songwriter moment, "The Break Even Point," emerges from the fuzz with a stark but somehow gentle magnanimity that recalls the most closet of the closet moments on the Velvets' third record.

JOHN KNIGHT |