Fans of Cinema Prague will rejoice in this new offering Snakes Alive after the band disappeared from the Perth music scene in 1989 . The band , with the addition of new bass player Roy Martinez have produced a solid album of left-of-centre rock.

If rock with a heavy bottom end , sped up then slowed down , standard wailing followed by high pitched shrieking (often all within the one song) with intelligble but quirky lyrics and a band obviously having a good time sound like your bag then you should sign up here . Standard meat and potato rock fans will find no joy , simply be bewildered and should look elsewhere . Lyrically the words apart may have some meaning but when put together here they basically defy interpretation and if you believe you can understand the true meaning of this word jumble you may need the help of a qualified mental health professional .

Variety and subtlety are not the name of the game and most songs follow the same structure previously mentioned so don’t expect any surprises or power ballads. The only possible exceptions to this rule are The Reluctant Sheriff complete with xylophone and the countryish Two Minute Noodles .This should save you some time in the record shop as if you don’t like the first few tracks you may as well quit as there is nothing very different awaiting you further on .

Repeated listens are not worth a damn either as this recording will not open up for you later . It’s very simple – you either get it or you don’t but it’s probably better for your musical education if you do !

This is a well played and nicely produced effort which will keep the already converted happy and may even recruit a few more adventurous punters to the cause . Is there a larger audience out there for Cinema Prague amongst the current indie rock darlings ? Probably not , but you get the impression that the band could care less and will continue having fun with their own eccentric brand of rock.