LLAMA FARMERS
Dead Letter Chorus (Beggar's Banquet)
Rating: 5 out of 7
By Ken Micallef

   Though Green Day may tell you differently, pop and punk are not usually desirable song-fellows. The pop part usually suffers from a power inferiority complex, while the punk rages over the proceedings with hormones spewing up an ugly storm of matching zits. But Greenwich England's Llama Farmers have found a way to match the brawn of punk with the polish, melodies and brains of pop. 
   The band's debut U.S. release is a whirlwind of powerful, even romantic, performances. "Get The Keys And Go" recalls David Byrne singing with the Stooges; "Picture," John Lennon with Gang of Four. "Pornoco" takes the prize though, a tumultuous blend of Police-like guitar resonance and mad MC5 rhythm pounding. Then "Zorillo" turns the record completely left with raging slabs of guitar and a melancholy melody imitating a Husker Du comic standup routine. Nice artwork of the female form included.

All recordings courtesy of Beggars Banquet. All songs written by B. Simpson, Llama Farmers; courtesy of Copyright Control.