Smells Like Metal LP
Captcha Records, 2011
Of the unsung record labels in the mid-to-late 2000s, Scott Soriano’s S-S Records had one of the steadiest and best-distributed indie labels for the sonically adventurous earholes of that era. While there were a few that weren’t 100% excellent, you could always count on S-S Records releases having something interesting enough to warrant a few spins. Among a stacked roster with top-shelf classics from A Frames, Andy Human, Cheveu, Dan Melchior, Factums, Feedtime, Life Stinks, Spray Paint and others, not to mention absolutely crucial reissues of bands like The Sperm Wails and The Proletariat, one of the most played and beloved in the NFZ bunker was the trio of albums from Orland, CA’s Nothing People released by the label. In addition to a smattering of 7″ releases on other notable labels of the day, like Hozac, Permanent, and Captcha, each release by Nothing People advanced their cerebral sonic brain fry in ways that were unlike any other band then or since.
While it was relatively easy to find most of Nothing People’s releases, Smells Like Metal, the band’s final album, wasn’t nearly as well distributed and escaped my attention and ears for years. In fact, I wasn’t even aware of its existence until earlier this year when I came across it and threw down an exceptionally reasonable amount of money to acquire it. The thing that strikes me about this release compared to their other records is the narcotic glaze that drips from it’s grooves, something akin to a drugged-out Chrome if that wasn’t an inherently redundant statement. Wild sound effects, echoey detached vocals, fried guitar buzz, and squealing feedback coming from multiple angles, loosely held together with a steady-but-scuffling beat give this record a late-night downer vibe that’s soothingly sublime.
Smells Like Metal starts side one with a gluey drag swagger that lets you know right away that they’re not interested in pulling listeners in with a peppy, feel-good tune. Instead, it hits like an early Eno record played at half speed after chugging Robitussin DM, while the next track, “Cathode Ray Tube” unloads massive washes of bleary psychedelia. The instrumentation stands on a foundation of standard rock, but is augmented with synth, horn bleats, tinny drum machines, and enough textural surprises to keep things interesting. Sample the downbeat drone of side one closer “Moan” and marvel at how it makes the perfect segue before flipping over to side two’s harmonica-scorched “Commit” that sounds something akin to the more gnarled edges of Bauhaus’ glam undertones.
Throughout the 14 tracks on the record, Nothing People stretch time Neu-style to serve up more damaged tracks and noisy bangers that carry the sense of mystery that the band made up of members only identified by initials has always had, but with a much darker tone than their other releases. It doesn’t seem to be available to stream anywhere, aside from a track on YouTube, and there’s a St. Louis band with the same name making it even harder to find. Even with its gatefold jacket and full color labels, the track listing for Smells Like Metal only appears on a shoddily photocopied insert, making it even more difficult to discern what’s going on here and where it’s coming from — yet that’s also what makes it such a fascinating listen. Who knows if willful obscurity was their intent or if the scant attention this record has received was a symptom of their place in the margins of a marginal scene, but I’m grateful to have found it and hope you will be too.
Nothing People – Smells Like Metal
Nothing People – Cathode Ray Tube
Nothing People – Gut Wind
Nothing People – Commit
Nothing People – Dirty Kiss
Nothing People – Smile to a Choke
Nothing People – Cracked Actor