Comprised of stalwarts of the Kiwi music scene, Snapper were a band that
slipped under the radar when they first emerged in the late 1980’s, never quite
reaching the heights their music otherwise promised. This may have been in part due to a
contemptuous attitude held by some quarters of the English press towards New
Zealand bands and their Australian neighbours at the time. It was also undoubtedly down to
self-implosion on the part of the band if reports are to be believed.
Record Store Day 2013 has just seen Captured Tracks
re-release their classic 1989 self-titled EP, with their most eager fans
managing to grab a copy of the limited edition release. Snapper well and truly wore their influences
on their sleeve, with The Jesus and Mary Chain feedback and the synth-driven,
hypnotic repetition, of electro punk godfathers Suicide stamped all over their
sound, to the extent that it is at times a clear amalgamation of the two. However, there can be no disputing the band’s
ability to craft a catchy pop hook, and this is evident on tracks like Buddy
and Hang On.
Maybe this re-release will capture the imagination of a new
generation of fans, just as the work of their predecessors mentioned above
has managed to withstand the test of time. As well as obvious noise rock influences the EP also has a krautrock feel that has experienced a resurgence in popularity
over the last few years with English bands, The Horrors and Toy playing their
part in reinvigorating the genre made famous by krautrock royalty Can and Neu! Snapper are a band that has a part to play in
the music history continuum, and this EP at the very least has a place in the
record collection of devout noise rock/pop fans.
By Garrett Hargan
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