FINGERPRINCE

No one seems to know if this was album number three, four or five due to the weird release schedule of the Residents. Replete with spooky cover, this is the Residents at their near best just as you'd expect from the mid 70's. I'm always surprised that this one is overlooked in the Residents catalogue of madness. It's right up there with 'Meet the Residents', 'Duck Stab' and 'Unavailable'.

'Fingerprince' is guaranteed to leave you feeling either queasy or very annoyed. That's the thing with the Residents - you either love 'em or hate 'em. I own many a strange record but I'd probably have to admit that the Residents - for seven years, between '73 & '79 - were the weirdest band on the planet.

'Tourniquet of Roses' has the added bonus of vocals by a drunk 'Barney' from the Simpsons - this always raises a smile. It's also the only tune with drums other than percussion on the 18 minute 'Six Things to a Cycle.' Basically it's a bit like listening to a maniacal episode of the 'Muppet Show' where everything sounds out of sync. It's off key and deliberate from the first note.

'Six Things to a Cycle' itself is the one tune where you actually feel like you're being hypnotised by Derwin Brown. Off key and off kilter but played with conviction and utterly absorbing throughout. It leaves me bewildered every time.

A continuously entertaining disc from the masters of the psychotic and unbalanced. Dense in sound but playful and stupid at the same time. I love it! God knows what any of it means - the lyrics are completely mental, but it's a truly great album and should be heard by anyone looking for something VERY different.