A Record a Week: Femme Fatale - Fire Baptism

SIDE 1.
FIRE BAPTISM (Reprise)
BIG GAME HUMAN HUNTING
DANCE PARTY
STABBING VICTIM

SIDE 2.
COKEHEAD METABOLISM
TORMENTED BY DEMONS
BENTONOUVEAU MANIFESTO

As I talked about last week, this was actually the first recorded album, but the second release. The sound is not quite as refined, though it is still an aural assault in a short burst, true to JFK's form.

I don't like this album quite as much, although it is still pretty great. I think perhaps Al P hadn't quite wrapped his head around the best recording technique, or perhaps his studio wasn't as polished or the mastering wasn't as well done, but the sound quality isn't as excellent as the other albums.

I think the best songs are the last two of the whole record, and especially Bentonouveau Manifesto, which I can only imagine alludes to the ready-made sushi company of the same name.

It is bittersweet to listen to records like this. They remind me of a time seeing/playing lots of shows with these guys and what felt like a really great time for music, while reminding me that these bands are no longer and the bands that have moved in their place don't have the same feeling to me. Or more likely, I am just old.

A Record a Week: Femme Fatale - As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

SIDE 1.
BLOOD MONEY (Reprise)
I AM FUCKING INVINCIBLE
HANDGUN FANTASY
FUNERAL PARTY

SIDE 2.
BLOOD MONEY
HANDS UP BABY
AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP

This record was the second Femme Fatale record recorded, but the first released. This could be a scheduling thing, a strategic release, or possibly because the record label for this record may have had their crap together a bit more to pump it out quickly.

Containing the first (second?) sub-20 minute burst of fast-paced aggressive music from the mind of Jesse F Keeler. While Keeler was playing in Black Cat #13, he became upset with the band and started this as his side project. Over time, he recorded the music and when he got around to recording all of the songs, he recruited his then girlfriend, an ex-Standing 8 band-mate and a couple of others to fill out the lineup while he kept to the microphone. Their live performances were know for being like a 15 minute musical sprint. The short songs had little break between them and the band would go full volume and full power for the duration of the set, leaving their shirts covered in sweat and instruments covered in blood.

Keeler and his girlfriend broke up and they decided to continue with no keyboard shortly after. In the end, the fact that the band was really the baby of Keeler, matched with the grueling show schedule ended up being too much for the band as a whole. There was a pretty good overlap in time with Femme Fatale and Death From Above (1979), which was (and is again) a pet project of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler that took on a life of its own once it started going.

Anyhow, back to this record. As with their live performance, the records are swift and to the point. They all tend to have a lead-in that is instrumental. This one also includes a musical outro as well. I think the cohesiveness of this album is great and it also has one of, if not my favourite Femme Fatale song, Hands Up Baby.

I was happy to hear about the recent reunion of DFA1979, but I REALLY would love to see a Femme Fatale reunion.