Mike Watt & David Thomas

As an alumnus of SST Records and a fan of many of the labels lesser known projects, I look forward to anything that features Saccharine Trust/Universal Congress Of guitarist Joe Baiza. SST is best known for its amazing roster of Black Flag, Husker Du, The Minutemen, Meat Puppets et al. But there was another level of music presented by the label- a semi-improvisational mode within a rock structure best exemplified by Saccharine Trust. Smog Veil Records, home to Pere Ubu, Rocket from the Tombs and the mighty Thor has issued the two Unknown Instructors discs.

Along with Baiza, the band features the excellent rhythm section of Mike Watt and George Hurley of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Poet and sax player Dan McGuire has a conversational narrative vocal style that’s alternately humorous and on point. Also check out the comp “Jamnation” featuring Dan as vocalist with a variety of bands.
The first UI album, The Way Things Work, featured guest Sacc Trust vocalist/poet Jack Brewer. We all have music that we associate with past experiences and places. Even though its only a few years old, this disc makes me a little sentimental over the mid 80’s SST days in the South Bay of SoCal- Lawndale Rock City. I read a comment about this album somewhere that said, “You’ll think its 1985..almost.”

There’s nothing nostalgic about the new UI disc, “The Masters Voice”. It sounds much better than the first album. Production guidance was provided by SST strategist Joe Carducci in the Total Access studio, where many SST albums were recorded. The twist this time are the contributions from Pere Ubu vocalist David Thomas and visual artist Raymond Pettibon. Thomas is masterful in using the voice as an instrument- his knack for cadence and sometimes comic timing transcend the lyrics. I’m not entirely sure there are lyrics… Check out “ This Black Hat” one of three tracks led by Thomas. Watt told me recently that he hopes to work with David again, who he described as a “conductor” of the studio performances. The musical alignment between the BaizaWatt/Hurley/ axis and Pere Ubu has always been there. It’s a natural fit. The band is in great form here.

Raymond Pettibon has a small number of recordings out there on obscure labels. Here, he’s spieling his syllable twisting free association rhymes that are unlike those of any other lyricist. Raymonds’ writing is tight – short phrases can have multiple connotations which expand as he moves to the next line. His voice is mixed a bit low here, which may be by design. I worked with Raymond years ago in one configuration of his band Supersession. He would give the band copies of dozens of his song lyrics and have us build riffs and melodies around them. I hope that someday a label can get Raymond in front of a microphone to do more of his spoken verse. Watt’s got a few spiels on this disc too.

Take the time to dig the Unknown Instructors.