Melody Maker - August 22, 1981

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THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Blast Off / Release The Bats (4AD)

Three-minute horror movie soundtracks of jarring insensitivity by a band who've overcome my inherent distrust of Australians with a series of hugely entertaining interviews. Both tracks here wield similar characteristics - brutal and bloody amid a volley of drums and arrogant bravado.

The Birthday Party are the kind of boys who bopped the teacher while the rest of the class sniggered and played with their geometry sets. They certainly ain't pretty, but they're a welcome antidote to the age of Ultravox.

- Colin Irwin