By It’s our Bandcamp Pick of the Week, featuring the colorful Austrian garage rock of Topsy Turvy’s FIGHTING THE GINORMOUS MACHO NACHO, out now via Siluh Records!
Topsy Turvy – FIGHTING THE GINORMOUS MACHO NACHO
Genre: Garage Punk, Surf Rock
Favourite Tracks: “Macho Nacho,” “Everything I Must,” “Five Guitars,” “Toads On Roads”
Watch out: The super, intergalactic Topsy Turvy trio mean business!
If their striking costumes and battle against a gigantic toy robot don’t convince you, then their vintage surf and garage punk rock will. The magnetic Viennese three-piece comprises Resi, Vic, and Lena—a standout in the city’s DIY scene for their urgent guitar prowess and colorful imagination. Why the costumes—designed by Lena herself, another star quality—and story? It’s all about finding fun and resistance in a bad situation, rather than being chewed up and spat out by it.
These crimefighters are FIGHTING THE GINORMOUS MACHO NACHO. The titular “Macho Nacho” isn’t just a villainous giant robot who’s come to wreak havoc; it’s an entity based on a real musician the band encountered with an abhorrent macho energy. Learning this, the concept is more than a charming Powerpuff Girls-esque villain of the week situation, but a triumphant, rebellious battle against misogyny in the music industry, and Topsy Turvy sure are fired up for the battle.
The opening one-two punch “Duck Tape” and “PCB” launch them right into the action, their Slits-indebted punk jangle and pronounced basslines packing a lasting punch. The comparisons continue with banshee yelps and coos on the playfully tense “Macho Nacho,” a vintage surf rocker that’s a cross between the Raincoats and B-52’s—the girls stand their ground by condescendingly asking for help on how to write a rock ‘n’ roll song. Obviously, given their infinitely catchy Automatic-like guitar rhythms, they know damn well how to.
The ragged electric whirlwinds never cease, especially on the reverberant “The Wind” and ‘80s hair-rock “Everything I Must.” “Five Guitars” really sounds like there are that many chords on it, the burning feedback blazing with a fervent passion. “Toads On Roads” is where they live up to their namesake, dawdling around a wobbly key-driven stomper that makes for a good shuffle. Closer “Pretty People” is an empowering, rapturous home run after the earlier showdown.
Shooting the Macho Nacho off into outer space by the end of the record, it’s a joyous victory. Their revival of the girl group era is so welcome. Topsy Turvy have fought against an unfortunate endemic in such a way that is incredibly original and fun, with their inspiring defiance and glamorous artistry done out of love. You’ll be rooting for them the entire time you’re listening to their battle. Go and cheer them on over at Bandcamp.
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