Who knew that the sound of the accordion on a Luke Haines album was exactly what I needed? The secret source. The elusive ingredient. To me, the greatest moment on Setting The Dogs On The Post Punk Postman comes at the beginning of "Ivor On The Bus" when the accordion (whose hookline brings to mind Nirvana's take on "Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam") first emerges from the speakers. The accordion is the perfect foil to Haines's vocals. Better than the kazoo. Better even than the recorder.
This was a surprise album in the sense that Beat Poetry For Survivalists appeared just a year ago. But then the man has always been prolific, especially of late. First thing you need to know is that Setting The Dogs On The Post Punk Postman is not a concept album. I would say that the Luke Haines LP it reminds me the most is Smash The System from 2016: an eclectic collection of songs representing various sides of the man.
There is madness. Lots of it. In fact, "Yes, Mr. Pumpkin" has to be heard to be believed. With its creepy hooks, lyrics worthy of Robyn Hitchcock and tasteful guitars (courtesy of Peter Buck), the song is a bizarre triumph. There is Luke's obsession with the more sinister aspects of German history ("Ex-Stasi Spy" is a catchy singalong whose video is quite brilliant). There are quirky British references (the aforementioned "Ivor on the Bus"). There are numerous other references (Andrea Dworkin, Mao Zedong, others).
Mostly, though, it is about those great songwriting chops which have not grown any dimmer with time. And while "I Just Want To Be Buried" does not quite live up to its first lines, "U-Turn Baby" is glammy and purposefully ugly, "Never Going Back To Liverpool" is melodically unimpeachable and "Landscape Gardening" could be the greatest two minutes Haines has ever come up with. Another personal favourite is the folk-ish and whimsical "When I Owned A Scarecrow" that sounds like a cross between Rock And Roll Animals and I Sometimes Dream Of Glue.
Finally, the title song has it all. Frenetic hooks, ominous whispers, "Spanish Caravan" guitar, memorable lyrics, and Luke screaming 'Epic Soundtracks!' like a man possessed. Album of the month, easily.
RECOMMENDED THIS MONTH:
Luke Haines - Setting The Dogs On The Post Punk Postman
Du Blonde - Homecoming
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
Alan Vega - Mutator
Dinosaur Jr - Sweep It Into Space
BRUIT ≤ - The Machine Is Burning and Now Everyone Knows It Could Happen Again
Nick Waterhouse - Promenade Blue
Guided by Voices - Earth Man Blues
