This Southern-California duo is one of the most interesting projects in the scene. Existing for more than 15 years and still producing interesting, unique records does mean something. Could their music be labeled as simple? Maybe only when referred to number of instruments used (don’t forget sticks and barrels!), but lyrics, rhythms and beats are far from rudimentary. It only takes couple of listens and you get the bigger picture.

“The Finger” is no exception. Call in their own name for music they create: electronic junk punk. Exactly. They collect electro bleeps that other people throw away, add some ska/punk beats and lyrics. Plain and not simple. Take 'Nativity' for instance. There’s not enough space here for me to describe it’s sobering words and (uncharacteristic) bassline. Moving, bloody moving. Cathegory? No idea. But I know about ‘Defeated’, it’s electro-clash with a twist: not your ordinary careless urban theme, here you’ll hear: “I’ve been defeated/ I’ve been discarded/ I’ve to ask myself/ Why did I start this?/ No consolation/No satisfaction/ It’s always the same/ The same trouble and lies/ The same, same problems arise/ They won’t go away…”

And it gets worse. Remember a young band named Big Black? Well, nevermind… anyways, they had the most gripping psycho-social lyrics and extremely graphic music. Simply put, they were one of the best bands ever existed in US alternative scene. Well, Babyland’s ‘Guard Dogs’ brutally reminded me of them. Whole song looks like it’s being ripped from Steve Albini’s mind. And then electrocuted. It is simply terrifying in it’s paranoid taste. Hats down for this one, boys! I am in awe.
More. You’ve heard ‘Nowadays’ probably, perhaps ‘Gehry’ too. No, not your ordinary hits, but as close as Babyland music let’s you define them as such. Some tracks are unimpressive, slow songs are just not convincing enough. But overall look would force me to give it super strong addiction mark.

I am also confident that this album is purely and up-to-the-point Babyland. Must respect that, there so many poseurs and people who try to prove something by using wrong means. These two guys make their own stuff and release it. Sounds simple? Well, it does, but it is not. Here is a big picture: They’ve been doing the same thing for years, without compromise and with a lot of quality. Not many projects can say that and stand ground. For all the rest: “The Finger”.