Ten Bright Spikes |
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 Ten Bright
Spikes was formed in April 1991 by Jason Honea (ex-Social Unrest vocalist) and Nicky
Garratt (ex-UK Subs guitarist) via the US mail when Garratt, searching for a new creative
outlet, was put onto Honea's musical trail by a fellow label-mate. After many long
distance exchanges that revealed their similar aspirations, Garratt sent a tape of four
songs to Honea. Feeling they were on to something, they quickly pulled in Jacek Ostoya (ex
-Orange bassist/violist), Mario Pietryga (ex- Upright Citizens drummer), and Ron Isa
(ex-Social Unrest bassist) for a recording session in San Francisco. It was during that
session at Peter Miller Studios that most of the musicians met for the first time.
The Music
XBS music is a mix of both lead singer
Jason Honea’s and Nicky Garratt's influences. Honea’s influences stem mostly
from his broad love of pop culture, citing both the work of Brian Wilson and e. e.
cummings as central to his creative sensibilities. Honea’s often complex and
freely-associative lyrics spring from his love and study of literature and history.
Honea’s obsession with Brian Wilson surfaces in his composition “Vertical
Brando” and in his vocal treatment on “General Electric”, while his concise
pop treatment is most evident on “Spleen” and “Blue Crayon” where the
melody hangs on a more traditional structure. Garratt, in contrast, is an avid fan of J.
S. Bach, G. Machaut, as well as O. Messiean, Pharoah Sanders, Christian Vander (Magma),
and Burt Bacharach (with Hal David and Dionne warwick). On Astro Stukas, Garratt’s
jazz influences are particularly noticeable on the “Plum Flower” trilogy and
intro to “King of Sweden”. “000,000”, however, was inspired by
Johannes Ockeghem’s Rondeau “L’autre d’antan”. Blueland, can be
considered as somewhat of a concept album. Musically it ranges from “Pavian”,
which starts with a powerful Magma influenced section and terminates with a Bacharach
influenced coda (a la Tiujuana Brass), to Garratt’s tribute to
1993 Chairman of the
Board - Frank Sinatra tribute (LP version only)
Astro Stukas. I heard a few obvious if eclectic influences in this group’s three earlier EP’s: Pharoah Sanders (to whom they dedicate a song), the Gun Club (for their modal/punk fusion), and the U.K.Subs (leader Nicky Garratt is an ex-Sub). Actually , this band is a lot more complicated than even that list suggests. Garratt has stated his interest in source material from Magma to medieval music, and displays a fondness for his collection of some 1250 bells. Consequently, Astro Stukas reflects a maddeningly delicious hybrid of punk, progressive, experimental and jazz inclinations, taken in every case from the fringes of even those marginalized styles. The results are amazingly catchy without being the least bit obvious. I think I could isolate Magma as a certain inspiration for the melody, lyrics (no, not in Kobaian) and tricky time signatures of “Norse,” and Coltrane’s spirit pervades “Prayer For The Night,” but where do those poppy “fa-fa-fa-fa’s come from in “Vertical Brando”? Several of these tracks come from the EP’s, while some are new; my only complaint is that at 30 minutes in length this CD had more than enough room for all of TBS’ previous released material. Encore! Andrew Warde - OPTION (August 1993) Astro Stukas This comp combines, in one handy kit, tracks from the first three TBS EPs and some new stuff. Here’s a band that sound like no other; meshing violas, bells and off-kilter guitar crankings, TBS invent songs as original and intriguing as their namesake. Take to heart the wailing intensity of “King of Sweden”. Step into the almost gothic experience that is “Ten Bright Spikes.” The truly monstrous, 9-minute epic in three parts “Plum Flower: *Prayer for the Night *Ghostshirt *Waterghost” is an environment unto itself: Cascading, descending, sparkling, musing. The song’s midsection, “Ghostshirt,” faintly recalls a whispered Latin situation; imagine a disfigured version of Santana’s music capable of true flight. Fugazi wishes. “Waterghost” features the incredible din of 2,500 bells, feedback, piano and absorbing lyrics. Unlike anything I’ve heard. Astro Stukas is highly recommended for adventurous souls “in search of.” SCRAPE (August 1993) Astro Stukas. What do you get when you cross the musical mayhem of former U.K.Sub Nicky Garratt with the intellectual stimulation of ex-Social Unrester Jason Honea? A bloody great debut album, that’s what! And with three EP’s under their belt Ten Bright Spikes should already be household names. But if you missed the curtain call, here’s your chance to catch up.Astro Stukas includes seven songs from their earlier efforts, and adds four new compositions to the set. Always surprising, the Spikes flit effortlessly from textured ‘60s pop to jazz-inspired whimsy encircled by an underlying alternative edge that gives the record a depth and aura all its own.But the music provides only part of the Spikes Experience. Because the other half of the equation is Honea’s lyrics. Startling and complex images appear disembodied, within a structure of...I’m not precisely sure. But Honea is not deliberately obtuse; besides providing lyrics. he also imparts the inspiration behind the songs. But if you’re like me, a reference to a quote by Guillaume de Machaut won’t mean much. And if you’re like most people, neither will Magma. Still, it intrigues nonetheless which I’m sure is Honea’s objective.First thing tomorrow, I’ll put on my Walkman, throw in Astro Stukas, and with liner notes in hand, raid the public library. I suggest you all do the same. Who says pop music rots the brain? Jo-Ann Greene - Alternative Press (September 1993) Astro Stukas CD There’s a lot of creativity and ingenuity here. It won’t fit most people’s definition of punk, though; they’re a little too innovative and unconventional. Ironic, ain’t it? Melodic, beautifully textured songs which employ a violin, a viola, a piano, and tribal drumming. Vocally, they’re treading into Morrisey territory. If you consider them wimpy, you’re missing the whole point. MAXIMUMROCKNROLL (june 1993) Astro Stukas
CD. Ten Bright Spikes sinks a lot of neat stuff into the basic premise of post-punk guitar
rock-first and foremost in Lovely Previn’s angling and edgy violin, which undercuts
and overreaches Nicky Garratt’s guitars. This gives the whole album a depth and
dardness that belies the pretty simple song structure. That is, until the last number,
‘Plumflower,’ where the band breaks out the berets and gets jazzy. Tinkling
percussion, repeated vamping and Garrat’s Tyner-esque piano clusters work in a
RockGuys Play Jazz in a Non-Embarassing Way. The whole album has a lot going on beneath
the surface that will give Astro Stukas a lot of lasting power.” - Your
Flesh #28, 1993 Blueland Here’s a band worth watching,, simply because they’re always trying to keep up with their ambitions - occasionally failing in a most fetching way. While their early EPs had them trying to find a common thread between modal jazz, pop-punk and a well-worn collection of Magma records, here they’ve mutated into an alternative rock chamber ensemble. The core Spikes have a standard rock line-up augmented with violin, viola and piano; some of the arrangements here add horns, flute and backing vocalists. Their “failures” - in the limitations of their singing and playing, the simple arrangements, and the minuscule production budget - actually give the results an honest quality that aches for a higher truth. There are a half dozen good songs here (“Minneola” and “Blue Crayon,” especially), careening along on smart post-punk energy like the Mekons hopped up on cognac. But the momentum is repeatedly broken by three variations on a piano etude called “Lovers Theme.” These moody themes might have made OK bookends for the CD, but tossed in between a couple of rockers they only serve as a misplaced use of dynamics. Program ‘em out on your CD player and you’ll find there’s a strong record in here somewhere... Beth L. - OPTION (August 1994) Blueland An excellent record. This reminds me of some late sixties broadway show music, except that it's not stupid enough. It rocks, but in a very slick way with touches of classical and Jazz, using a variety of instruments, including piano, flute, sax and strings. It's mostly male lead vox, but with some very neat female "background" vox that often dominates. I really like the lyrics, though damned if I know what they mean. In general they may have achieved the unclassifiable, which puts this right in the KZUS zone. - KZSU Stanford (1994) Der Ferngesteuerteschlafanzug EP “I’m too lazy to spell out the full title of this EP. Suffice to say it’s the best yet from this west coast project, featuring members of UK Subs, Samiam and Social Unrest. “King of Sweden” is a punchy, driving song, “Disclaimer’ takes a post-punkish, drone route while ‘Dogstar’ works off a Smiths-like melodicism. Unpredictable, and that’s why I like it.” - Suburban Voice #33-34 Vertical Brando
In our opinion this is a wonderful record that ranges from jazzy parts to rock always
remaining quiet and simply amazing, with the use of cello and violin. And what about the
line up? Here is the wonderful voice of Jason Honea of Social Unrest, Nicky Garratt on
guitar (former member of UK Subs), plus various other people. Super!! - Nail
Records Italy (1994) |
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Bacharach titled
“Blueland”. Lyrically, it deals with the dark array of feelings in the breakup
of a relationship, particularly evident on “Villagers Celebrate Passing Their
Exams” (title taken from “The Prisoner”, another of Garratt’s
obsessions). Moving backwards against this emotional black velvet is a gold thread
“The Lovers Themes” which represent hope. They were written about Garratt’s
experience meeting women through the S.F. personal ads. Starting with No. 1 - solo piano,
No. 2 - piano and flute, and finally No. 3 - piano, flute, and violin, they employ Lovely
(violin), Garratt’s ex-girlfriend from the punk days, Melanie (flute), who ironically
met Garratt through the personal ads. 
1991 Vertical Brando
ep (10”) 
1991 The La Mancha
Candidate ep (10”)
1992 Der
Ferngesteuerteschlafanzug ep (10”)
1992 Astro
Stukas CD 
1993 Blueland CD