Unnatural Helpers – Cracked Love And Other Drugs

 

The most obvious starting point for new inductees to the work of Unnatural Helpers is that they are Mudhoney's European tour support and what a very suitable pairing that is. Grimy, unfussy and buzzing with energy, this is contemporary garage rock at its most pure. The longest tune on Cracked Love... is a mere two and a half minutes and, given the garage vibe, it is generally important not to overstay your welcome. Periodically aping a number of Seattle past-masters from the early SubPop scene, Unnatural Helpers competently play the part of young, guitar wielding booze-hounds out for fun. What they don't do however, is produce much that really marks them out as anything other than background scenery in the musical landscape they occupy. Brave Dumb Face and Head Collector are probably the best on offer, the rest is adequate but potentially intended for the more ardent garage disciple. [Chris Cusack]