Between 1980 and 86, Danceteria on 21st Street was a focal point and
embodiment of the vibrant musical cross-pollination going on in New York
City at that time. While hiphop, electro and disco boomed out on the upper
three floors, East Village group Certain General were almost house band in
the ground level live room, a heady blend of sex-charged atmospherics,
skeletal art-funk and beautiful pop songs which, by ’83-’84 had made them
leading figures on the downtown music scene, atone point recording for Hilly
Kristal’s CBGB’s label. For some reason, whenever NY’s post-punk scenes gets
written about, it’s always the same groups who get mentioned, like ESG, the
Contortions and Konk. Certain General have been like the invisible band,
hence the title of this double CD aimed at redressing the balance as it
ropes together some of their finest moments from the early 80s through to
their 21st century reunion. The combination of Parker Dulany’s evocative
vocals and Phil Gammage’s psychedelic surf guitar onslaughts still sounds
intoxicating, gripping and often magnificent on songs like ‘Voodoo Taxi’ and
‘Maximum G’. The project is dedicated to Ruth Polsky, Danceteria’s booking
agent who also managed the group before tragically being killed by a runaway
cab outside one of their gigs 20 years ago. Anyone interested in New York’s
post-punk musical heritage owes it to themselves to at least investigate.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
