Manic Scots.

One of the things remembered from my brief fling as a writing major is that people pay the most attention to the first ten lines or so of an article. In the event that you are just passing through, "Manic Scots" are the only two words you need to know. But then again, I know how much you enjoy reading Pitchfork. So trust me, there is more.

The current release from Prolapse, The Italian Flag, is akin to listening to someone going insane. It's angst- filled, high energy music that demands 100% of your senses. Never does the music let up on you until the final "bonus" track, which despite its excessive length finishes off this little bout of dementia quite nicely.

Musically, there's nothing groundbreaking on The Italian Flag. Longtime fans of "alternative" music heard plenty of this kinda stuff in the 1980s; Joy Division, Bauhaus, the Cure, and Birthday Party pioneered this musical style and set the standard. But what makes The Italian Flag work is that every element-- from the rhythm section to the guitars to the vocals-- lives up to that standard. The riffs are repetitive, but addictive, and convey the raw emotion of the music. The rhythm section pulls you in and holds you under. The dreamy and hypnotic vocals from Linda Steelyard contrast with Mick Herrick's maniacal ranting. Even if you can't understand half of the words (what the hell is that Herrick guy saying, anyway?), it's clear that Prolapse is pissed off.

Naturally, great music doesn't have to sell 1,000,000 copies to be considered great. Great music must simply create a mood and a feeling, and stimulates your senses, which is precisely what Prolapse does-- you feel their anger, their angst, and their mental breakdown.

One word of caution: I don't recommend driving while listening to The Italian Flag, if only because your heightened emotional state may cause you to drive over the speed limit, and officers of the law do not accept Prolapse as an excuse. Now if you'll pardon me, I have to send a bill for a speeding ticket to Jetset Records.

-Duane Ambroz