Archives for posts with tag: Sweatshop Boys

Sweatshop Boys

Mastering Sweatshop Boys ” Always Polite, Never Happy” on Twintoe, Crapoulet, SP Records in Europe/Japan and Dirt Cult, Recess Records in the US.

Taken from Punkalovich:

Sweatshop Boys are beginning to become more and more important in the Israeli punk scene and hopefully in the punk world in general. Consisting mostly of Haifa boys including Ofri (ex-Friday Night Sissy Fight/Barren Hope), Dean (ex-Friday Night Sissy Fight) and Itai (The Orions, The Backliners, Achim Zabari, Kuskus Records), the band also includes singing drummer and powerhouse that is Nadav (Mondo Gecko, Spit, Shifka Chiefs, Brutal Assault, Uzbecks…help if I’ve left something out!)
   Although not what everyone may consider “punk rock”, the band do know how to write catchy as hell songs about things that matter to them. Their first album, The Great Depression, really helped demonstrate the Sweatshop Boys sound and this latest EP very much continues to do the same.  All four songs are songs I recognise from shows because they are just so damn memorable.
  The EP starts off with No Pity In The City, a pogotastic anthem about moving to a big city but with no real changes. Second track, Special Mood, takes the pace down a bit with an almost 60s beat-music era jangly pop sound, equipped with organ solo and a rhythm that will have you toe-tapping away. Try Hard, again on a bit of a 60s tip but punkier, is a simple and to the point song about “wannabe scene queens” with its intoxicating “You’re not special at all Ahhhh” refrain. The funny thing about writing songs of this topic is that it could be describing people who actually come to your shows. Therefore, it is remarkably ironic when you see someone at their show who has forced themselves to learn the lyrics and stand right at the front, making sure to be heard. I think that’s what I love about it, whether intentional or not. Last track, Slow Dive, leans off the social commentary a bit and instead focuses on a positive message about taking life easy. The band informs us that “Sometimes you got to let it go” and instruct us to “go with the flow.” Good advice, there, my friends! All songs have this fun vibe about them, almost definitely due to how everyone in the band gets a chance to sing and sing together, making everything sound more anthemic. 

   I kind of remember somewhere near the start of the band’s career that I didn’t really pay all that much attention to them. I wasn’t really keen on the Pet Shop Boys influenced name (I used to like the Pet Shop Boys) and I found it all a bit too “jingle jangly”, for want of a term. Whether the band itself has improved or my musical tastes have broadened, this new EP is a beautiful record and I hope to hear another full length later on in the year full of more catchy twist-inducing tunes.”

 

Sweatshop Boys

Mastering Sweatshop Boys ” Always Polite, Never Happy” on Twintoe, Crapoulet, SP Records in Europe/Japan and Dirt Cult, Recess Records in the US.

Taken from Punkalovich:

Sweatshop Boys are beginning to become more and more important in the Israeli punk scene and hopefully in the punk world in general. Consisting mostly of Haifa boys including Ofri (ex-Friday Night Sissy Fight/Barren Hope), Dean (ex-Friday Night Sissy Fight) and Itai (The Orions, The Backliners, Achim Zabari, Kuskus Records), the band also includes singing drummer and powerhouse that is Nadav (Mondo Gecko, Spit, Shifka Chiefs, Brutal Assault, Uzbecks…help if I’ve left something out!)
   Although not what everyone may consider “punk rock”, the band do know how to write catchy as hell songs about things that matter to them. Their first album, The Great Depression, really helped demonstrate the Sweatshop Boys sound and this latest EP very much continues to do the same.  All four songs are songs I recognise from shows because they are just so damn memorable.
  The EP starts off with No Pity In The City, a pogotastic anthem about moving to a big city but with no real changes. Second track, Special Mood, takes the pace down a bit with an almost 60s beat-music era jangly pop sound, equipped with organ solo and a rhythm that will have you toe-tapping away. Try Hard, again on a bit of a 60s tip but punkier, is a simple and to the point song about “wannabe scene queens” with its intoxicating “You’re not special at all Ahhhh” refrain. The funny thing about writing songs of this topic is that it could be describing people who actually come to your shows. Therefore, it is remarkably ironic when you see someone at their show who has forced themselves to learn the lyrics and stand right at the front, making sure to be heard. I think that’s what I love about it, whether intentional or not. Last track, Slow Dive, leans off the social commentary a bit and instead focuses on a positive message about taking life easy. The band informs us that “Sometimes you got to let it go” and instruct us to “go with the flow.” Good advice, there, my friends! All songs have this fun vibe about them, almost definitely due to how everyone in the band gets a chance to sing and sing together, making everything sound more anthemic. 

   I kind of remember somewhere near the start of the band’s career that I didn’t really pay all that much attention to them. I wasn’t really keen on the Pet Shop Boys influenced name (I used to like the Pet Shop Boys) and I found it all a bit too “jingle jangly”, for want of a term. Whether the band itself has improved or my musical tastes have broadened, this new EP is a beautiful record and I hope to hear another full length later on in the year full of more catchy twist-inducing tunes.”

 

The Orions

The Orions have released a cassette on Burger Records which was mastered here. Check out the review at Surfrock.com below.

“Always Clean And Fresh
Reviewed by: Justin Hayes

I’m really digging The Orions’ debut EP Always Clean And Fresh. It’s a high-octane gasser, filled with four tracks of supercharged instrumental surf music, on cassette tape.

Whoa, did I just say, “tape?” Yup, tape. I can dig that, too. First was vinyl, now cassette. I’m also digging the retro wave of recording mediums. It’s a blast from the past and I love it.

And The Orions? They’re four cool guys from Israel, playing some very cool music.

The Orions are:
David Miretski – Guitar
Itai Alzaradel – Guitar
‘Mediterranean Buddha’ Ezra – Bass
Guy Offenbach – Drums

The Orions have done a stellar job with their debut EP. Always Clean And Fresh boasts four outstanding original tracks of music. After listening to Always Clean And Fresh at least a dozen times, I’ve come to the only possible conclusion there is: I can’t wait to hear more from these guys in the future. Front row, center … sock it to me, baby.

::     ::     ::     ::     ::
Always Clean And Fresh – Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Balls-to-the-wall action all the way. The Orions waste no time getting down to business with their title track. It’s an urgent, predatory and massive tune. Always Clean And Fresh has a whodunit mystique about it and would be a perfect soundtrack in an espionage flick. Surf, spy, totally kick-ass and totally cool.

El Don Compressor – Opens with the sounds of combat. Then, with more power than a tsunami, all hell bursts forth. The Orions really get with the program in El Don Compressor. Man, can they ever play. Absolutely terrific, bodacious, high-energy surf tune, punctuated by fabulous musicianship and highlighted by some awesome double picking.

Dado Beach – Damn, damn, damn. The Orions are great, great, great. Dado Beach is another stellar work of art. It’s a massively powerful surf number, driven by potent performances by everyone. Get a load of the exchange between the guitar and bass at 1:02. Hot damn, hot damn, hot damn. Love it, love it, love it.

Wax On, Fuck Off – This is a very cool surf tune with a very cool, unique and imaginative bass guitar ending. Once again, super high-quality musicianship is the name of the game. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but The Orions are remarkable. I think they could play just about any kind of music and make my jaw drop. I’d even listen to Martian rockin’-polka-hillbilly-funk, if these guys were playing it.

::     ::     ::     ::     ::
The Orions are extremely talented and destined to make their mark on the music world. Be sure to check out Always Clean And Fresh on The Orions’ Bandcamp site. It’s an excellent chance to hear their music. You’re gonna dig it.”

 

Orions

Mastering the Orions / HÄXAN Split.

The Orions are a Surf band from Haifa, Israel featuring members of the Sweatshop Boys. They are doing a split with another local band called HÄXAN

In the meantime check out a song from one of the Orions’ other sessions!

 

Sweatshop Boys Live

Mastering the Sweatshop Boys debut LP entitled “The Great Depression”.

Here is a preview of one of the new tracks!

 

 

Mastering the Orions forthcoming sessions.

The Orions are a new Surf band from Haifa, Israel featuring members of the Sweatshop Boys.

Here is one of the tracks before and after mastering.

The Orions – El Don Compressor Unmastered

 

The Orions – El Don Compressor Mastered

 

Just finished mastering the Sweatshop Boys recordings. Power pop from Israel!