Christchurch is a city well-known for its lack of hills and abundance of weird locals. There's a lot of spare electricity on the wing, which must be responsible for the supercharged Loves Ugly Children, and Cakehole, the band's long-awaited first full-length album.

The consistently popular three-piece had already released one ep Purge, and contributed to various compilations before Flying Nun took them on in 1994 after hearing excited reports from the South where Loves Ugly Children have been a live favourite almost since the day they formed three years earlier (particularly in their hometown where reviewers were even moved to write poetry!) A blistering performance at the inaugural Big Day Out cemented the Nun's interest, and later in the year the label unleashed the ep Cold Water Surf to accolades from the press of "a tireless wave of mutilation brimming with pop undertones" and the like. Ten months later the similarily received single Personal World hit the airwaves, a taster of Cakehole, which is about to set ears on fire.

The 15-song album was recorded at Dunedin's Fish St Studios with Tex Houston who claims his previous outings with the likes of the 3Ds, The Clean and Chug still didn't prepare him for the sonic assault and sheer volume that the demented trio wanted to record at. From the opening moments of the aptly titled "Messing Things Up", it's all go for guitarist vocalist Simon Maclaren, bassist Floss, and drummer Jason Young. The frenetic pace stands for the thrashing out of "Here Comes Stupid" and "Personal World", where Loves Ugly throw a handful of fast chords and sweet vocal harmony at the tune in classic pop-punk style. For a slacker approach and groovier feel, "Mind Control" is a standout, as is the same-but-dirtier "Surf Nazis Must Die". "Totally Down" takes a slowdive into Loves Ugly dynamics land, as does the album's finishing touch, the beautifully desperate "Day Of The Dogs".

Loves Ugly Children have just completed a triumphant tour of Australia with label mates King Loser and Garageland. A New Zealand tour throughout September will be the last chance in '95 for locals to experience the band before they leave Summer barely untouched for a three month escapade in the UK and Europe, where the album's imminent release and band's arrival are much anticipated.

Last words? Cakeholeis pure melodic punk. Straight up and down. Short and sweet.

Cold Water Surf EP (1994)

Born in Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand, these Loves Ugly Children are three youngsters with a formidable live reputation in their native land and now a storming debut on Flying Nun that will be knocking socks off everywhere. The trio formed in 1991, playing a drunken gig to a hall-full of even drunker school students. From there, Loves Ugly Children have gained admirers for a sound which one reviewer described as "pissing over any 'indie guitar band' from elsewhere, while still tinged with that unique New Zealand flavour". The line-up consists of Simon McLaren (guitar/vocals) Floss (bass) and Jason Young (drums). Simon describes the group's sound on Cold Water Surf as: "the pure extremes of light and dark, the melodic and the dischordant, optimism and nihilism, hooks and maelstroms." If the high energy punk-pop of bands like Superchunk and distorted melodic frenzy of trailblazing New Zealanders The 3Ds appeals to you, then a ride on Cold Water Surf (named, incidentally, after the drummer's favourite washing powder) could be just what you need to brighten up the day!