Labels: Bad Afro
Review by: Alex Deller
From the same label that brought us that rather fine Defectors album a while back comes another retro-tinged slice of Scandinavian rock n’ roll. The jury is out as to whether or not it’s a coincidence, but on the first track Mr Simon Beck (whose brainchild this is) sounds one hell of a lot like Josh Homme singing for some surf-inflected 60s pop band. Now, as far as I’m concerned that is a pretty good thing – a little cheesy for sure, but tolerably so. Sadly the remainder of the record doesn’t manage to keep its head above water, sounding too much like your dad driving a smidgen over the speed limit and singing along with gusto as Roy Orbison blasts from the car stereo. Sometimes things are dragged back from cheeseball hell, but they lapse quickly back into unconvincing talk of “cruising’, the twang of pristine white Stratocasters and an inkling that even the weedy Shadows could deck this lot if they slugged back enough lemon squash at the church fete.