Chicks on Speed - Girl Monster

The electroclash revolution has given Riot Grrrl a new lease of life

Album Review by Gregor Laird | 13 Oct 2006
Album title: Girl Monster
Artist: Chicks on Speed
Label: Chicks on Speed Records

Chicks On Speed know that women who forge their own paths in music are often marginalised or overlooked in favour of those who fit neatly into pop pigeonholes – or men who play 'alternative' music. The Chicks released their first single in 1998 while still art students, picking up the baton that X-Ray Spex and Siouxsie Sioux started running with in the golden years of 70s punk, and continued by Bikini Kill and Courtney Love in the 90s. Serving almost as 'The Best Lo-Fi Riot Grrrl Album... Ever!' this 3CD collection gathers together obscure (No Bra) and established (Bjork, Le Tigre) females from the 70s to the present day.

The booklet is designed by the Chicks themselves in their trademark style (faux-naf zine-esque cut and paste) and features an eloquent essay by Geoff Travis - head of Rough Trade - and then a rather pointless one by Pil & Gallia Kollective who criticise the likes of Madonna. This boring and unnecessary indie-snobbishness leaves a bad taste in your mouth, having enjoyed the excellent smorgasbord of musical delights on the album.

But 'Girl Monster' itself is a colourful, exciting and sometimes abrasive collection of cheaply produced punk that covers all of Riot Grrrl's various avenues into grunge, new wave and electro. As a movement, most (male) critics wrote it off in the late 90s when Ms Love swapped her kinderwhore chic for Versace. This compilation shows it has not only survived the millenium, but the electroclash revolution has given Riot Grrrl a new lease of life. The DIY approach to club nights, writing music on your laptop and promoting yourself via MySpace has inspired post-feminist club kids the length and breadth of the country to have a go, inspired directly by the heroes of the scene - Peaches and Chicks On Speed themselves, who took this exact same approach almost a decade ago. [Gregor Laird]

Out now.

http://www.girlmonster.net