Following the release of several singles in their homeland of Australia, the Melbourne-based quartet
Ripe took several years before finally releasing 1993's
The Plastic Hassle. It's an impressive debut of fiercely melodic noise rock that shows an influence of acts like
Velvet Underground and
Sonic Youth. Led by singer Mark Murphy, the group manages to take their influences, though, and make them sound fresh as they churn through tracks like the taut, energetic "Supernatural," the feedback-laden "Centre of the Universe," and the urgent "Mother Figure" (one of the album's more economical numbers, clocking in at under four minutes). The band truly hits their stride on the melancholic breakup song "Get Your Shit Together" and the pummeling "Moondriven" (whose title would become the moniker of a splinter version of
Ripe), but for listeners desiring a glorious racket,
The Plastic Hassle succeeds from start to finish. ~ Tom Demalon