Mad Macka's history should need no recounting but, fuck it, let's assume you're entirely clueless or you live outside his native Brisbane."Seminal Robots" is a mix of two greasy guitar blues-rock cuts with a full band and six sparser songs - just vocal, guitar and blues harp - with an intimate feel. The latter were recorded using the same four-track (same model, at least) that Bruce Springsteen used for his "Nebraska" album.
Brisbane's a long way from the dustbowl of Broooce's Woody Guthrie record. Mad Macka's songs are stories about ordinary people, shop-lifting, drug dealers and drop-outs. They're told in a maudlin way. Initially, you might think the record's a drag, but listen properly and the black humour seeps out.
The two full band tracks kick off each side of the LP: "Newman Blues" jumps out in blustering glory and "Dead Blues" is a swaggering slow burn with harmonica and some scorched earth guitar and skronking sax. Me, I would have loved to have heard an album fully recorded in this vein. They're in sharp contrast to the vocals-and-piano-only "Poor You", the most minimal arrangement here. The point shoudl be made that the stripped-back songs are good in their own right and Macka's guitar-picking is top-shelf when heard without stun-volume.
Don't abide with those reviews that say da bloos is best heard in the early hours of the morning, a whisky close to hand and all sharp objects hidden from view. You should listen to "Seminal Robots" in 35-degree heat with the curtains wide open and a glaring Australian sun shining through your windows. With a stinging hangover.
2/3
