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This will be one of those albums that finds its way into those end of year polls for best albums of the year. Just so you know. The first time you hear it you will wonder why. In fact, it is going to take a lot of listens before you really work it out; and before you reach that point it would be fair to assume Rip It Off is going to make those lists because some people like to put unlistenable records as their choices to make themselves look cool and interesting.
The truth is that Rip It Off is bordering on being painful to listen to. It is a difficult album to like and it is loud, and it is fuzzy and it is dirty. All of their amps sound like the speakers have been blown. All of their instruments sound detuned and broken and the drums sound as if they have been played in a different postal district to the microphone that recorded them.
Rip It Off was apparently recorded on an 8 Track reel to reel but actually sounds as if it was recorded on to a low quality C-90 using a cheap cassette player that simultaneously records white noise from the detuned radio setting.
Times New Viking are what we used to call Lo-Fi, although in reality they are far closer to Lo-Fi's destitute cousin No-Fi. In other words you are going to need a strong stomach and an even stronger pair of ears to get to the heart of this album. If you're one of those people to whom production is all important then you might as well stop reading now, Times New Viking are not the band for you. Everything is overdriven to the point of stupidity, and yet there is something strangely charming about this unholy mess.
Given enough time and effort Rip It Off proves to be a rich and enjoyable album. Once you get past the sonic equivalent of a barbed wire perimeter fence you will find some sweet harmonies and catchy pop melodies. They are there, but they are very well hidden indeed.
Listening to New Times Viking with fresh ears (and especially if you are unfamiliar with the No-Fi approach) is a little like hearing Sister Ray or Trout Mask Replica for the first time if you've been bought up on a diet of Abba: it is a shocking experience. Unless you are a lo-fi afficionado then it is unlikely you will get past the initial urge to tear Rip It Off from your CD player and throw it as far away from your stereo as possible. Those of you who can endure a little pain will find the experience worth it, as Times New Viking have created an album that is as close to aural S&M as you are ever likely to get.
If you get this album you will be tempted to dismiss it as "shit" almost instantly but persevere and the rewards will be great - although the loss of hearing will be greater.
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