Bikini Creep – Bikinis N’ Bedlam

Bikini Creep are a side-project for Matt Andru, the man behind the preposterously named The Gunkersplats, a New Jersey four-piece who play a brand of what is commonly known as ‘Ramonescore’, other artists in the genre include the Riverdales, The Queers, Teenage Bottlerocket and most famously, Screeching Weasel. In fact its the latter which the band remind me most of. The quartet describe themselves as a snotty, raunchy, silly cartoon Punk band who released their debut the CBT EP back in January.

Since then Matt has hardly been idle, with the launch of this brand new project and a debut release in the form of Bikinis N’ Bedlam. As with his aforementioned day job, the band are pretty much anonymous, appearing only in cartoon form. Obviously Bikini Creep aren’t the first to come up with this concept, as can be testified to by the legendary likes of The Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, Dethklok and er, Gorillaz, oh and good luck if you’re trying to garner information on the groups origins etc, their internet presence seems to consist of an Instagram page, which is better than nothing I suppose.

Parts of ‘First Time Down The Jersey Shore’ remind me of the dominant riff in The Lemonheads ‘Second Chance’, back when that band still rocked and prior to Evan Dando becoming a pin-up and subsequent wet blanket. The track also nods to Rick Agnew’s solo work and D.I., a very cool sound which would make you think it had been recorded in the 80’s were you to listen to it blindly, a strong opener. As a huge fan of the Wipers ‘Riot Grrrls With Water Guns’ proved something of a rewarding listen, that band’s dark Post-Punk and Proto-Grunge certainly evident. In other words right up my street and hence why it proves to be my personal favourite on the record, expertly crafted. ‘Belmar Pigs’ like a lot of the tracks on here is a little more serious not just musically but also lyrically. LA Surf-Punks Agent Orange appear a keen influence, particularly tracks such as ‘No Such Thing’, the whole vibe here more downbeat and as far removed from The Barracudas and The Beach Boys as one can get (not that there’s anything wrong with those bands of course).

‘Volleybrawl’ is the shortest track barely reaching the two minute mark but there’s a heaviness present which you wouldn’t necessarily associate with Andru’s work, its like a curious mix of Joe Wood era TSOL (the first two records anyway) what with the Gothier feel, as well as Crass’ ‘Darling’from 1979’s Stations of the Crass. An unlikely combo yet one which works!

‘Spooky Summer’ adopts a Gothic hue, there is a sense of the dramatic ala classic Bauhaus and 45 Grave. It would have proved a welcome addition to The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack had the trio been around in 1985. ‘Thong Riot’ sees Matt adopting an English style sneer and there’s a campiness of which The Damned would have been proud. Musically its once again surprisingly heavy while the use of an organ(?) offers up a theatrical element, unlike Ghost this definitely doesn’t suck ass. I know nothing about surfing but ‘Seaside Scum’ makes me want to move to Cornwell and start ‘hanging 10’, there’s also a healthy dose of Angry Samoans sardonic wit thrown in for good measure, proving an ideal conclusion to the record.

Bikinis N’ Bedlam is a fantastic listen and like The Descendents Ride the Wild/ It's a Hectic World proves that Surf music can possess both humour and intelligence.

https://www.instagram.com/bikinicreep

https://www.instagram.com/thegunkersplats/