Vintage Review: Passafist's Passafist (1994)

Whether or not Passafist and their self-titled, seven-song EP end up becoming a full-time project or remain a mere footnote in the impressive musical careers of Dave Perkins and Lynn Nichols, it’s a milestone in the history of the local scene. Perkins and Nichols are best-known for their work with one of the best bands to spring out of our scene, Chagall Guevara. For this effort, the pair – dubbing themselves the “Caruso” twins, in the best glimmering tradition – have rounded up a handful of the city’s best nontraditional talent and put together a hard rocking disc that sounds like a bludgeon, yet cuts like a knife.

Dessau frontman John Elliott lends his distinctive and effective growling vocals to the disc, while Michael Saleem and Mustafa contribute their underrated talents as well. It’s the Caruso twins, however – Waco and Reno – who steal the show, whether it’s kicking out the jams with an inspired cover of the Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” pounding out the wickedly pointed industrial drone of “Glock,” or closing with the socio-political implications of “The Dr. Is In,” with its Dr. Strangelove samples and jazzy, hypnotizing rhythms. It’s an effort that would do any regional music scene proud and it deserves a wider audience. (R.E.X. Music, released 1994)

Review originally published by R.A.D! music zine