Given the current the states of world John E Vistic (James Ray And The Blackhearted Riders / Crippled Black Phoenix) could be accused of stating the bleeding obvious on his upcoming four track EP, Humanz Are Bastardz, but things are rarely as simple as they seem as first glance, and this EP is no exception. For this release Vistic takes inspiration from authors Jared Diamond, Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and Karl Ove Knausgård,as well as from artists such as Ian Dury and Kurt Cobain. The Humanz Are Bastardz EP follows on from theUnder The Volcano album which was released just over two years ago, there are similar elements but this release shows a very different side of John E Vistic.
Humanz Are Bastardz opens with Crime And Punishment, at this point any student of criminology will know which of the aforementioned influences applies to this track. The first taste of Vistic’s latest EP is a hit of dirty bluesy rock ’n fucking roll that, at least sonically, owes a debt to the likes of The Birthday Party and The Stooges as well as it’s sociological inspiration. Following in its wake is Gunz Germz & Steal, a track that references Jared Diamond’s book about the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, a song with an appropriately discordant and troubling nature. Gunz Germz & Steal will not be for all, it fluctuates between an appropriately grungey riff and moments of sonic chaos, definitely not a radio friendly unit shifter.
To Every Purpose Under Heaven brings a relative oasis of calm, by that I of course I mean relative to the rest of this EP as this is a track that carries a distinctly dark undertone. The penultimate cut from Humanz Are Bastardz has the brooding feel of Animal Rights era Moby and Calling All Astronauts, as well as the darker side of 80s and 90s alternative. To bring this unpredictable EP to a close we get the titular track, no surprise that this heads off on yet another tangent, much like it’s subject matter this is discordant and disturbing, and an appropriate way to sign off a unique and idiosyncratic EP, one that gives no fucks whatsoever about commercial appeal. Humanz Are Bastardz is a unique statement from John E Vistic, one that equally speaks to the dark side of human nature and pulls from the dark side of alternative culture.
As I’ve previously made clear, Humans Are Bastardz is not easy listening, this is a dark, claustrophobic and unique EP that is not in any way shape or form dance floor friendly, this is not so much a description as a warning for the unwary. If your tastes are towards the eclectic, experimental and unpredictable then Vistic’s latest EP is well worth your time and money, and I would say the if your collection leans towards the likes of The Fall, Public Image Limited, Sonic Youth, The Jesus & Mary Chain and Jesus Lizard then this EP will feed the dark side of your soul.
John E Vistic will also be appearing at Duffy’s Bar, Leicester tonight, 4th November, with further tour dates below. Humanz Are Bastardz will be released on the 10th November via Deafenendling Records.
John E Vistic UK Tour Dates 11th November – Red Lion, Bristol – EP launch show with Droogs, Birdman Cult & The Brizingtones 1st December – The Cumberland Hotel, London (Solo acoustic show) 2nd December – Spice Of Life, London
