Three Wise Men E.P.
Bosque Records/Rock Action Records (bosc020/rar003)
1996
Thanks to: Tom, Stuart, Mark, Phillipa, Yummy Fur, 13th Note, Blisters, U. Yatsura, Greg, Vinnie, Davie, Jim, Paula, Alec, Aly, Mogwai, Derek + Andy, Dick Johnson, Lung Leg, Pink Kross.
Trout - Three Wise men EP
Weird and wonderful trio Trout have brought out an excellent first EP ‘Three Wise Men’ on the Bosque label.
The Glasgow east-enders are best described as post-modern-punks, although “mental” is a more succinct description!
(Fraser Middleton / Glasgow Evening Times)
TROUT - THREE WISE MEN
Qui le chitarre sono molto scordate, le progressioniarmoniche epilettiche, il cantante urla e si contorce, le tonsille saltano.Gliassoli ricordano i deliri dei primi Butthole Surfers. Acquisto obbligatorio
(Cinzia / Snowdonia)
Trout - Three Wise men EP
I hear that trout are amazing live, but on vinyl they fail to astound. Their trashy psychedelic, demented take on garage punk is pleasing but not enough on its own. File somewhere near Pere Ubu, Can and Badgewearer.
(Pete Dale / Fast Connection)
Trout - Three Wise Men EP
Toxic look from outer space. Quasi glam. Miracolosamente selvaggi e scozzevi. Liturgie pop/noise e cantilene ‘chimiche’ (“Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken, monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey”). A tratti ricordanoI Doctor & the Medics annegato nell’acido lisergico. Da avere, se non altro perche all’intero della ‘povera’ confezione vi inseriscono pacchi di flyers.
(Michelle Benetello / Vida)
Glasgow Life
Yikes! We’d better get Stuart Braithwaite to introduce us to the man he considers to be Glasgow’s Numero Uno pop ‘n’ rock star, ie William Rogan from Trout. Lead singer in Glasgow’s premiere psychedelic, avant-garde punk rock outfit, William is a man who is not afraid of getting mind-loosingly pissed, putting make up all over his eyes and then falling over onstage. Still, he’s got a nice line in songs about everyday events such as living in ovens and meeting UFO’s.
“I’m merely interested in the genetic possibilities of little white men, with their little black eyes. bald chins and big heads. Lets not forget their little white eyes,” declares William.
William is bonkers. A raving lunatic. Absolutely mad. Which is nice, but what pleasures does he get from shocking his audience?
“I just like to see their jaws DROP!” he shouts.
(James Oldham / NME)
Prole Life CD
Trout are an even more bizarre kettle of fish, juxtaposing the fearful and the plain ludicrous until it is hard to know just how you are expected to react. The track ‘Owl in the Tree’ clearly stirs such traumatic emotions for singer Willie Rogan that it is peppered with screams of psychedelic anguish. This is their first appearance on record, “We couldn’t even afford to do a demo tape and then we got a chance to plat with some bozo paying for it” moans Rogan.
(Alastair Mabbott / The Scotsman)
Trout - Three Wise Men EP
The most inebriated, shambolic band in Glasgow re-record and re-release their hard to find anti-anthem ‘Skunk Rap’ which also happens to betheir weakest track. Far better are ‘Living in an Oven’ and ‘U.F.O.’ where at least some semblance of a tune creeps in. It ends with ‘Plasma’, a brilliant galloping gambol with rocking keyboards and scary, whiney vocals.
(Andrew Friendly / Oscar Smokes the Leftovers)
Trout - Three Wise Men EP
The kindest thing i can say about Trout is that their main man is a talented cartoonist. Teh songs are dire. Whatever this Glasgow 3 piece way have imagined this EP would get accross - anarchic humour, one-chord charm, psychedelic wit - all of it remains in their imaginations. A press sheet culled from fanzines and the NME emphasises the drunken unpredictability of Trout gigs; there may be a thrill to be had from watching a paralytic guitarist attack nightclub furniture, but without the visuals I’d have to say Trout’s musical prowess is what I’d expect from a band who prefer playing pissed.
(Michel Faber / X-124)
Top Trout Triumphs
1. acoustic session 13th note. Bongos, recorders, a song about elves anda cover of the ‘Home and Away’ theme tune.
2. William, during a gig at the Laurel Tree in London invading the audiences space and genuinly scaring bemused camdenites with his guitar abuse and slightly unsettling manner.
3. Their performance at the Kazoo Club consisting of all 3 members engaging in an interpretive dance routine accompanied by a soundtrack consisting of samples of 70’s TV themes.
4. Managing to be half guitar terrorism, half pantomime and half performance art and still adding up.
(Kitten Frenzy)