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Low Point Drains: The meanest Dutch 7inch

The Low Point Drains have started spreading around their reputation for being one of the wildest
garagerockbands from the Netherlands. And as they deserve, they are often praised at DfD.
Only a few months ago, the Kuriosa-label issued a four track-single by the duo from HELLevoetsluis.
Unlike the other releases on the small label (The No-Goods, Miracle Men, Green Hornet etc.), the 'Drains' have
no distinctive 1960's -sound, although the added distortion probably makes it the meanest 7”-record from Holland
that will appear this year. The Low Point Drains may only have two members, they make more noise than a pig farm.
The recording was done by Peter Kroes (The No-Goods, Miracle Men) and he drowned the music of the 'Drains' in the
same syrup that was used for The No-Goods’ debut-EP. It sounds like some extra distortion is added, to make it sound
even more ‘DIY’ and obscure. Personally, I like that kind of sound, that is what rock and roll is supposed to be.
The vocals are handled in a half-scream, half-sing-manner, but if you listen very closely to the lyrics, it amazes that
Mr. Point has no Dutch accent. ‘Bottle-o-whiskey’ is the first track on the vinyl and guess what the story is..?
In ‘Merchandise’ they offer everything they have in store, or they try to make you believe they have all sorts of merchandise.
The first track on side two is my favourite: ‘Birthday Party’. Especially the screams in the catchy chorus makes this an anthem.
Final track is called ‘$+%=?!’ and, indeed, has no lyrics at all! Except for some ‘over the top’ -screams.
Musically, the Drains are very close to the better days of the Oblivians. Maybe this is caused by the instruments they use:
Mr. Point hits and chops on the guitar, while Mr. Drain provides the beat on a back-to-basics drumkit.
When listening to side two of the 45 rpm-7” EP, you are able to imagine with a little fantasy, that this could be a great lost
treasure from the 1960's. But if so, ‘Birthday Party’ would have been an underground-garagerock-anthem like
The Sonics’ ‘Psycho’. Anyway, it sounds very obscure, just like The No-Goods did on their first disc.
Later material showed that the band had smoothened their sound, and I wish this is not going to happen to
the Low Point Drains. Chances are small that there will be another Dutch record released this year, which sounds more
mean and dirty than this one! (Sideburner, Diggin4Dirt/ September 2005)


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