Von Sudenfed - The Rhinohead Single Review

Von Sudenfed
The Rhinohead
Single Review

After the disappointing cancellation of Von Sudenfed's Leeds gig (I didn't quite burst into tears, but my lip did quiver for a few minutes), consolation arrives in the form of this single. Arguably the most accessible and radio-friendly track from the album 'Tromatic Reflexxions' (it doesn't have lyrics about DJs who've 'pissed the fucking bed' for a start), it's a bouncy, driving affair that worms its way under the skin and burrows into the subconscious. You'll be humming it at work for days, particularly the ba-ba-ba-backing vocals, which Mark E. Smith sings in an alarmingly convincing fashion. Simple but effective.

The single comes with two further tracks - 'Slow Down Ronnie' and the Pilooski Edit of 'The Rhinohead'. The former is a new one on me, and is a 'story based in the present time'. Lyrics spill over farting drums and synth arpeggios until we hit a chorus that sounds like The Fall circa 1992 given CBT and happy pills. I think at some level it might be about snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan, and it kicks ass. The latter is a remix that makes the most of the original's bounciness, backing vocals and buzzy bass, adding a few busy arpeggiated synth bits along the way to rather good effect. And the cheeky Euro-synth fade-out is priceless.

What to some looked like a side-project to produce a few curios is turning out to be far better than that. Props, Mr Smith.

Jon Watson