MEDWAY GARAGE UPSTARTS! DEBUT LP! The Shadracks are a three-piece rock n' roll group hailing from Medway, Kent, with Babylonian overtones. Drawing lyrics from the forgetfulness and lost hope the group aims to play 40 years in the past, but with modern precision. The origins of the group date back over 6 months when Huddie Shadrack and Ellisa Abednego had a brief encounter in deserted park land. With a sheared an interest in incompetent punk and beat music it became paramount that they form a group, and quickly. At that very moment they heard the dulcet twang of old onion strings being plucked in the near versinity. Scouring the herbaceous borders the two friends happened upon Elle Meshack, harp in hand. Could she fix them into shape? The answer was 'yes!' So via a frosty garage in upper Strood The Shadracks' sound came into being. After just two rehearsals the cocky kids decided it was high time they recorded a daybut LP. And so it came to pass.
Also available:
The Shadracks, From human like forms (Damaged Goods) LP
excerpted from the weekly K News:
The Medway Bop hit the beach with a blitzkrieg of a diff color forty years ago and we are all still reeling from the guitar carnage. The Milkshakes, The Prisoners, The Delmonas, Thee Mighty Caesars, Masonics, Thee Headcoatees, Thee Headcoats, a rock'n'roll bonanza! One name associated with this regional scene is Billy Childish, however the blood oozes from so many open wounds it wouldn't do to blame any one guitar-slinging brigand.
What we do know is despite the indifference of the music press the rock'n'roll continues to flow through the region much like the mighty River Medway itself. The kids being still at it is best exemplified by The Shadracks, whose debut album The Shadracks is out on Damaged Goods (and is available now from The K Mail Order Dept.)
The story of The Shadracks' modest beginnings (according to Damaged Goods) are worth sharing:
"The origins of the group date back over 6 months when Huddie Shadrack and Ellisa Abednego had a brief encounter in deserted park land. With a sheared interest in incompetent punk and beat music it became paramount that they form a group, and quickly. At that very moment they heard the dulcet twang of old onion strings being plucked in the near versinity. Scouring the herbaceous borders the two friends happened upon Elle Meshack, harp in hand. Could she fix them into shape? The answer was 'yes!' So via a frosty garage in upper Strood The Shadracks' sound came into being. After just two rehearsals the cocky kids decided it was high time they recorded a debut LP. And so it came to pass."
A fractured fairy tale if ever there was one! Scratch the needle across this waxen cylinder and hear the sound of ba-dumpa-dum, all the crushed flowers of an age turned upside down with it's hands down its trousers. Plus a cover of The Buzzcocks' "Boredom". What could possibly go wrong(er)? The beat music influence is heavy in the harmonica these cats wail in choice moments. One can not help but shimmy.
On top of all that The Shadracks debut album was produced by William 'Spook' Loveday, the same fellow who wrote the liner notes for the first Delmonas album in 1985! Full circle, squared.
If The Shadracks are the shape of Medway things to come, I gotta jump the first tugboat headed that direction and walk a Chatham chalk line!
