Reviewed by Ian Webber

Punk poetry may not be familiar to many, but this British-based artist and his friends who include the likes of Dwane Reads, Asa Thomas and Rachel Joy, have produced a perfect introduction. At its heart this is slam poetry, influenced by an outspoken political and moral activism and birthed in the 1970s punk scene. The 52 tracks on this recording include very little music but every piece is delivered with an earthy, angry rhythm that raises issues and prods at topics such as capitalism, racism and religion. I found much of the content in the recording difficult to get into. As with punk music, it is confrontational and has not been prettied up or polished. The first accompanied track, "20 Glimmer" is in many ways reminiscent of Ian Drury with a heavy estuary accent delivering lines in a similar fashion to the '70s icon. "Faceless Killers" opens with a range of discordant samples that brood menacingly under a verse reflecting on the state of modern society. There are moments of humour such as "Mum Never Made It To London", but this challenging and at times disjointed recording is suitably rough around the edges to give it an authentic vibe. It may not be the most comfortable or entertaining listen, and certainly not suitable for consumption in one sitting. I was, however, left feeling that in the same way the Old Testament prophets provoked and challenged the status quo, maybe Eagle Spits deserves to be given a listen. These 65 minutes of verse will cause you to think about your values in the tangled contradictions of today's world.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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