The Boyd Rice Experience - Hatesville

On Hatesville Boyd Rice marshalled the talents of the USA's chief hatemongers for a trip to Hatesville, a collection of soundbites, rants and observations modelled on Rod McKuen's spoken word album Beatsville. Why? Quite simply, as Rice calmly informs us, over tinkering piano notes and swingin' brass of the title track "because hate is groovy. Because it's fun and necessary".

Rice's contributions here are largely spoken word, including misogynistic nursery rhymes and offensive daydreams. The original version of Hatesville featured 'Daydream' where Rice directed his hatred firmly at one-half of an acclaimed US underground publishing house. This time round his hatred knows no bounds: 'Shit List' is a revengeful threat that encompasses all his enemies. 'Mr Intolerance' is a bitter misanthropic sketch deriding the oppressed detailing every type of asshole that "disturbs your soul". Clearly, for Rice, things aren't going to get better. Just listen to his bitter mocking riposte to those who foolishly believe that 'Love Will Change The World': "Social and moral decay is like an out of control cancer that's taken charge, a cancer born of love."

Jim Goad (of Answer Me! Infamy) raises a toast declaring 'Let's Hear It For Violence Towards Women' (a diatribe from the final issue of Answer Me!). Listen as he lovingly draws out every word over industrial backing. It's even more shocking as a few years later Goad was convicted and jailed for beating his then girlfriend. Sweet irony indeed.

Adam Parfrey (owner of the Feral House publishing house ) plays with racial stereotypes in an imaginary 'Race Riot', lays down a fine Barry White impersonation on the easy loungecore of 'What If They Gave A Love In...'. He even takes a pop at the pharmaceutical industry, while providing some dubious support via the 'Hatesville Suicide Hotline'.

Perhaps the sickest contributions come from The Partridge In The Pear Tree aka Shaun Partridge. On 'Dog' he relishes the misfortune of a canine assault victim, and on 'Low Blood Sugar' he pokes fun at the hungry homeless. 'Take A San Francisco Bad Trip', meanwhile, recalls the zebra killings, a series of racially motivated killing of white people that took place in the seventies. Controversial? It's nothing in comparison with his scathing attack on 'Heather Mills', amidst faux Beatlesque harmonies. And while there's much to offend on Hatesville, you'll hear little dissenting voices about this humorous take on Paul McCartney estranged "clumsy dumsy" wife.

Hatesville has been out of print for a number of years, and this edition, available on CD, vinyl and picture disc, features Coop's original artwork rendered in full colour with a revised track listing ensuring even years later Hatesville provides a hate that just keeps giving. For more information go to www.soleilmoon.com