On Repeat (somewhere in 1991)

JANE FROM OCCUPIED EUROPE
POWERHAUS, LONDON
Jane From Occupied Europe have three guitars. Three. To your average noisenik like me, heaven doesn't usually come any closer than that. It's just such a shame that they weren't loud enough. Sure, there were moments when their strung out, f***ed-up hot-wire squall began to turn into my head and whitewash my brain, but there were also moments when it felt like the person standing next to me was listening to "White Light, White Heat" on a very loud Walkman.

But at least Jane From Occupied Europe have songs, and JFOE's front man, Jim Harrison, isn't above a little crooning once in a while. As the guitars of "Parade" smear an impressive and oppressive honey-smudge across the air, Jim's coy, self-effacing vocals lilt despondently in a semi-apologetic pick-and-mix of Guy Chadwick's romantic weltschmertz and William Reid's sullen disdain. They finish with the damn fine "Trash It", where Phil Eason's drum-kit takes on a life of its own and has an epileptic fit.

As Jane From Occupied Europe leave the stage the PA plays "Freak Scene", which is as near to perfect as we're going to get tonight.

Michael Bonner - Melody Maker, 1991

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You'll no longer be able to see them Live like Michael did but you can get your own (mp3) vinyl entitled "Coloursound" by Jane from Occupied Europe.