Las Mordidas – Ex-Voto LP (L.G.)
Never-thought-I’d-see-it-in-this-lifetime release of an album-length Las Mordidas record. Back in ’93-’94 when 7” singles were largely all I could afford, much less sneak back into my teenage bedroom, these guys put out a really great one, and little else (a split I didn’t find, comp tracks I couldn’t scope and a demo cassette well out of my reach). The 10 songs on Ex-Voto get most of it but not all of it, apparently the best of the tapes that could be baked, but that’s fine. It’s good to leave some mystery now and then. Las Mordidas was the connective in between Circus Lupus and The Monorchid for all-timer frontman Chris Thomson, joined here by John Kirtschen (Chris Bald’s little bro, also of Rain) on guitar, Beefeater/All-Scar Dug E. Bird on bass, and late-era Fugazi aux drummer Jerry Busher, and they really beat on those bookends, so much more “pro” than either it’s almost a shame things didn’t move beyond the semester or two they were active. Chris T is always a god-level vocalist, one of the best to ever do it, no arguments heard or even considered, so let’s keep going. I saw The Monorchid twice when Jerry was drumming and it was an entirely together, locomoting experience, playing about twice as fast as they could with Tom (who, understandably, was dealing with a drum kit that was always falling apart mid-set), and we get the benefit of that here, along with the versatility and inherent funkiness of the Birdzell bass. Jon K. is a lone guitarist who plays like he’s backing behind an evil twin hiding behind a full stack, rippin’ out these rhythmic crossover-style leads with a thick distorted sound that cuts like Vernon Reid meets Greg Ginn – he is the real secret weapon here, a very under-utilized guitarist following this group. One of the initial releases off this new reissue imprint, headed up by Monorchid/Skull Kontrol bassist Andy Coronado, with thick vinyl, tip-on sleeves and no digital counterparts to speak of from the looks of things. Other titles out include a reissue of the Fury EP (Chris fronting Swiz, a complete legend), the Milk Music demo (once shat on in these pages or ones like them by Dais co-capt. Ryan Martin), and some songs from Tarot Bolero pre/post party Decapitated Lovers. If you want these you have to engage in retail or mailorder, and good for you because you’re definitely gonna want this one. Let’s Go. (Doug Mosurock)
