Beserkerz - River Deep Action High LP (Sounds of Subterrania)
Rocking Dutch action rock that sounds more Australian than European…which is good! Touches of Strutter and Powder Monkeys and some seriously cool early Hellacopters inspiration now and then. Good songs and good sound and more fucked up than most of their Swedish colleagues. Fuelled on Oranjeboom and acid this is excellent drinking music and it's probably better than the new Scandinavian rock sensation…whatever that might be. Cool! Drummer Eppi runs the Rocketdog studio in Arnheim and he's been producing good shit there for years now. Let's hear it for Eppi! http://www.sounsdofsubterrania.com

(SN)

Blame Thrower - In Staccato Libido CD (Woo-Da-Loo)
This Detroit 5-piece lists Aerosmith and Johnny Thunders as some of their influences, and yep, it's definitely 70s style garage/glam/hardrock played with punk attitude. I wasn't that impressed with two first songs but with "Tacoma" their debut album really takes off. As you probably guessed Blame Thrower isn't terrible original but what the hell is nowadays? I really like their solid no-bull rockin' style and if they could weed out the few not-so-happening tracks their next album will be a monster! The 'hidden' 11th track is a great wild cover of Joe Jackson's "Throw It Away" with some killer harp. Scott Morgan (Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Hydromatics etc.) helped out with backing vocals and keyboard. Detroit Rock City indeed.
http:/www./blamethrower.com

(Jens)

The Bones - Bigger Than Jesus CD (I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records)
On their new album The Bones continue with their brand of punkrock'n'roll with a more melodic '77 punk feel. Like many new bands these guys are totally in love with that timeless Social Distortion sound. They're really skilled musicians and songs are wellmade and catchy, but for some strange reason this doesn't leave me breathless. Maybe because I've seen'em live and was kinda bored, or maybe because there are zillions of bands which sound exactly like The Bones with same kind of generic backing vocals, breaks and choruses. I'd have been a lot more impressed if this was made 10 years ago. I love the country punk-ish "Memphis" song though. But fans of that Swedish 'action rock'n'roll' sound should definitely invest in "Bigger Than Jesus". http://www.peoplelikeyourecords.de

(Jens)

Boomhauer - "Work On A Spell" 7" (Bad Afro)
OK, my judgment of this record may have been affected by putting it on right after sex and the winter sun bursting through the windows, but fuck me, this is great. 6 songs/10 minutes in the vein of early Jon Spencer and White Stripes records, full of moxie and stupid-ass attitude. Why it is that Finland can just keep spewing out bands of a caliber like this is a mystery to me. Spring seems really promising for Bad Afro Records with this, Silver, Defectors, and the infamous Baby Woodrose/Peter Belli single all coming out. And hey, Boomhauer are playing Stengade 30, Cph, March 19th - go buy them some weed, they sound like good guys.
http://www.badafro.dk http://koti.mbnet.fi/b-hauer

(Jon A)

Butchers Bill - Quick And Painful CD
This Brooklyn combo's self-financed 9 tracker sorta belongs somewhere between Nashville Pussy and Devil Dogs. Result? Positively awesome punkrock'n'roll injected with fat and juicy hardrock riffs. I'm a sucker for this shit when its done right and Butchers Bill's got plenty o' balls to pull it off. Every track rips; "Sick Of Waiting" and "How Do I Feel" made me think of the glorious Nine Pound Hammer, "Girl" is pure vintage AC/DC, "I Want More" has a grand Supersuckers/Turbonegro feel to it....I could go on and on. The raw meaty production also fits the tunes perfectly. Why some record label hasn't signed'em up yet is a strange fuckin' mystery to me since they're way ahead of most of the competition.
butchersbill@yahoo.com

(Jens)

The Caps - Strip Down & Rebuild demo CD
I've previously described this Copenhagen trio as a noisy powerpop take on Oblivians, Cramps and Velvet Underground from their live performances, and their first demo neatly captures that sound. The Caps is sort of an 'all star band' with ex-members of The Burnouts, Bunch Of Bitches and the On Trial bassist (who produced the demo), but strangely enough they don't really sound a lot like those bands. There's a New York bluespunk-ish vibe to some of the songs along with the bubblegum choruses ("Baby's In The River", "Told You What To Do", "Girl That Kiss", "Gimme Love", "Yeah Yeah Yeah"), which make'em quite unique in the Danish scene. "Lord In The Sky" is a hilarious southern gospel rocker fucked over, Caps-style, totally awesome! They also do a fun version of the old Iggy Pop hit, "Wild One" (with guest guitarist Marco Burro of The Untamed). "Strip Down & Rebuild" is a demo, and a damn great demo, but next time they record I'd like a bit more sharp and gutsy guitar sound and maybe some distortion on the vocals which would fit the songs perfectly. And where the hell is "Choo Choo Man", my favorite live tune? Okay, enough bitchin' from me, now go see The Caps strut their stuff in a bar near you!
http://www.thecaps.dk

(Jens)

Carnation - New Sensation MCD (Sounds of Subterrania)
Incredibly poppy, friendly, poppy mod pop from Sweden. I thought that only British wankers could make two guitars sound this unintense. Amazing! Four neat songs - fine tunes and everything - taken from a forthcoming album. This might appeal to fans of the Jam if they are over 50…and to Gregor from SOS apparently. I don't get it. Check out the Treeberrys for more soft core guitar work.
http://www.soundsofsubterrania.com
http://www.thecarnation.net

(SN)

Circle- Guillotine (Ektro 024)
Well, they are back again! This CD was recorded during a week or so in July of 2003. I think this CD will catch people by surprise. The opening song, Metsän Henget, is an amazing number. It begins like a normal Circle song and a very hypnotic groove that is sort of like the stuff on the singer, Mika Rätto's solo record from last year, Kopernikus Hortoilee Näkinkengässä, but then nothing is as it might seem as the vocals build and get more intense and the song ends quite powerfully. This track blew me away. I thought we were in for a great new Circle CD. Now, I don't know if someone trapped them in a room and made them hear all 40 Acid Mothers Temple records in one sitting or gave them a little LSD, perhaps, but man do they just freak out on this CD. Harva maa is a bizarre tune with an out of tune acoustic guitar and strange sounds and percussion. A strange instrumental freakout with samples (sounds like Beefheart mumbling in the background). Pääton Mies is another very strange track with weird vocals, crazed synths with the rate turned way up and bizarre. Ojaa Pitkin goes back to the acoustic guitar and strange minimal stuff. At least a tune is so what being played on the guitar. Weird stuff. Teräskylpv is a 12 minute track and starts with a cool bass line and the weird trip begins all over again as they layer in strange samples, distorted drum sounds, and finally it gets even stranger…. Quite a distorted sound on this track. After a couple more tracks, we are back with stranger acoustic guitar strangeness for Salar Opi. The next track reminds me of the stuff on the Doctor Rettu CD (reviewed in this issue of Aural Innovations), being very bizarre, dark disturbing soundscapes for like horror films. Don't play for small children! The fifteen minute Alta rautatamimien, is again Circle at their brilliant best. I love the electric piano on the track. The CD closes with another strange track that could accompany a B horror film. I am not sure what to think about this CD. Make your own mind up but check it out! http://www.ektrorecords.com

(Scott)

The Defectors - Turn Me On! CD (Bad Afro)
I heard some of the new 'more commercial' Defectors tunes last year at their great Beat Packing District gig with Dollhouse so I was obviously pretty curious about their new 3rd album. And while some tunes still recall their previous uptempo fuzz punkers ("Leave Me Alone", "Brought Up As A Dog", "It's You" etc.) there's definitely a change of approach, or should I say; their musical horizon has evolved into more slower and 60s-style pop areas. The songs are also a bit longer than usual. "It's Gonna Take Some Time" (featuring Lorenzo Woodrose on backing vocals) is probably their biggest shot at a radio hit, and yes, its a cute psych-ish pop song but its so damn well-crafted and catchy. Made me think of Blues Magoos mixed with 13th Floor Elevators for some reason. The great "C'mon Shake!" is more in ? And The Mysterians vein while "Come On Down" is more power pop fuzz mayhem. The weird and spooky "Sleepwalking" (recorded on mushrooms?) and "The Zoom-Out" are two unusually atmospheric, dare I say, more complex psych tunes than their previous releases. On "Turn Me On!" this Danish combo have embraced a more varied take on psychedelic garagerock, making this a very interesting album of different layers without losing their gutsy r'n'r edge. I like it!
http://www.thedefectors.com

(Jens)

Doktor Kettu- Kriegsphilosophie (Super Metsa 005 )
Super Metsa is the new CD-R label run by Jussi Lehtisalo (Circle, Pharoah Overlord, Ektro label, etc.). Each release is limited to 100 copies with original artwork. I am not sure how many CDs have been produced but this is number 5. There is no information about who is involved the project but I have been told by a friend (Santtu) that they are Pori musicians, including people from Circle. Kettu is the Finnish word for Fox if you are wondering. There are 3 long tracks all with German titles. They are all basically dark, brooding electronic drones that would go very well in a David Lynch movie. There is guitar, drums, samples of strange sounds, etc. It sounds like it was recorded in a cave under a busy bridge in NYC or something. You can order this from several mail order places on the internet (Hellride Music, Aquarius Records). Strange stuff recorded in two days in October 2003.

(Scott)

Giglinger - "Big Muff" 7" (Legal Records)
Shit, one more small Finnish wonder. Second 7" from Giglinger in, err, 7 years might not actually be half as good as it initially sounds and at the end of the flipside it goes all Prodigy on you, but it's all covered in a mush of fuzz that makes it lovably digestable like good, fat cheese, and crusty vocals that sound like some big leather-clad dominator type. Very, very old school, crude but cute.
http://www.giglinger.com
http://koti.welho.com/tkuvaja/

(Jon A)

Fifty Foot Combo - Jennifer Jennings CDS + extra CD (Drunkabilly)
I clearly remember seeing this outfit right after Iron Maiden at last year's Roskilde festival. After seeing Bruce & Co. strut their heavy metal antics it was a nice change of scenery to witness this group who had go-go dancers and a bongo drummer. "From Eddie The Monster to a groovy Russ Meyer flick" as I told a friend. Instrumental bands aren't my fave thang but Fifty Foot Combo isn't yer generic Dick Dale wannabe surfband. It's more sexy and exotic with a lotta different musical flavors; fuzzed out guitars, grinding organ and a very energetic bongo drummer really give them a unique sound. Made me think of Vice Barons for some reason. With a cd-rom videoclip of "Jennings Jennings". There's also a Drunkabilly labelsampler with 16 tracks (with 3 FFC tunes) included which is somewhat uneven to say the least: from kickass punk'n'roll like Gecko Brothers (Peter Pan Speedrock meets Zeke!) and Phantom Rockers to boring surf instrumentals. Anyway, you'll definitely get your money's worth with this CD single.
http://www.fiftyfootcombo.com

(Jens)

The Fleshtones - Do You Swing? CD (Yep Roc Records)
Been like 25 years since this group of Queens, NYC, released their first single and its been a bumpy ride but today they're stronger than ever. Their undying love for 60s bands like Yardbirds and The Seeds has never really left them and on "Do You Swing?" the combo is as sharp as ever. The 13 hardrockin' catchy nuggets are delivered with gutso and style, songs like "Destination Greenpoint", "Right On Woman", "Do You Swing?", "Good Enough For You" and "Alright" absolutely hit bull's eye in the game of creating rock'n'roll magic. Okay, way too many have done covers of "Communication Breakdown" and I would've prefered an original, but singer Peter Zaremba's inspired harp playing makes it worthwhile. There's nothing more to say; The Fleshtones are a having a blast of a wild boozy r'n'r party and you're invited so bring your spouse and swing!!
http://www.fleshtones.org

(Jens)

Hara-Kee-Rees - Explode! CD (Sounds of Subterrania)
Normally modern 60s garage rock bands doesn't appeal much too me. Sexareenos is an exception and so is this German out-fit. Recorded with Eppi from the Bezerkes, this has a super cool authentic 60s feel to it. Raw guitars, loud solos, great vocals and fucked up organ and saxophone now and then. High on intensity and low on intellectuality - just like we want it! All 12 songs rock in a fine Back from the Grave kinda way and it's the best Euro 60s garage band I've heard for years. As far as I remember the first album by the Swedish band the Strollers sounded, and rocked something like this. These youngsters don't get generic like almost all other bands playing this kind of stuff. Fresh, fun and pretty near perfect. Maan, I wish I had this on LP instead of CD. I also wish I had a 6 pack of Duckstein to drink with this, that would be happy days.
http://www.soundsofsubterrania.com
http://www.hara-kee-rees-de

(SN)

Heartbreak Engines - Good Drinks, Good Butts, Good Fellows CD (I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records)
Album opener "Get On The Engine" totally grabs your attention with its Motörhead-gone-psychobilly sound, and then continues with "Let Me Go" etc. This German combo probably ain't that original but I'm a junkie for this kind of fast testosterone punk'n'roll spiced with slapbass and a great unruly drunken I-will-steal-your-girlfriend attitude. Heartbreak Engines reminded me of Spinballs from the recent Punk And Billy concert with their energy and tightness. One of the very best releases from People Like You Records in this issue. With ex-members of The Spook, Rocketboys and Pitmen. Maybe I got a twisted mind but isn't there a homoerotic feel to the title of this CD? I should probably shut up now before some big rockabilly dude stomps my ass, haha. http://www.peoplelikeyou.de

(Jens)

The Maharajas - Unrelated Statements CD (Low Impact)
The Maharajas from Stockholm have a 10" and a great album out on Teen Sound from Italy but this is their first Swedish release. The Maharajas have a impressive line-up these days featuring Jens Lindberg (Crimson Shadows, Wylde Mammoths, Stomach Mouth, The Maggots), Mathias Lilje (The Strollers), Ulf Guttormsson and Anders Öberg (The Maggots) and listening to The Maharajas it's very clear that we are dealing with a bunch of experienced musicians here. They sound like the Swedish equivalent of bands like The Woggles and Swingin' Neckbreakers but besides that they also have a moody side to them mainly penned by Jens Lindberg. The uptempo garage rock stuff
is cool but for a change I actually prefere the slower, tuneful songs. 14 songs in just over half an hour produced by Måns P. Månsson. Very cool.

(Don K)

Nicholas Hill and the Universals- Ocean Boy (Interspace Music 2004)
Nicholas Hill has had a very long and interesting journey in music. I was fortunate to receive a CD from 1999 and the latest from his band, Ocean Boy. The band is a 6 piece with guitar, bass, drums, male and female vocals, keyboards and sax. The first CD from 1999, is a great piece of psychedelic rock with some space due to the way Nicholas plays the delay guitar, it opens up the sound and makes it more spaced out. Anyway what about the new release? The title track, Ocean Boy begins the CD with a dark moody piece lounge jazz piece. Don't be thrown off as the psychedelic rock is back with GlassSkyscraper, with its deep bass line and strange sounds layered over the top of the phased out guitars. The track ends just as it seems they are starting to head out to space out. Tell me about it has a nice delay guitar and reminds me a bit of some of the 1992-94 era Sundial or Magic Mushroom Band stuff. Nicholas sings in a very laid back style, a bit of David Bowie in their sometimes. Special Friend is something totally different. This is a pop song with a very laid back groove and some spacey sounds layered over the top and some nice saxophone. No Only Way is another space-lounge jazz type thing. Interlude begins with some really great sax and a mellow start as they head into Self Destructive Nature which has a bit of ethnic feel, and ska nature to it and is the only track on the CD to really ROCK. It is a really excellent composition. Overall, a pretty good release but not as much ROCK and the psychedelic nature of the previous release is toned down a lot.
http://www.theuniversals.com

(Scott)

Johnson Noise- Johnson Noise (Nasoni ASCD003)
This is the CD release of the very first Nasoni Records release from 1996. IT includes 4 bonus tracks as well. This is a prelude to the release of the bands new LP, Undine, later this year on Nasoni. The band is a three piece that remind me of a mixture of Motorhead and The Pink Faries but a bit more psych than either band. The heavy driving sound is quite awesome and they have a real diversity of songs on the CD. While I don't really care much for the vocal delivery, the music makes up for it as there is plenty of jamming on this disc. The opening track, Motormadness is very Motorhead inspired but the long psychedelic guitar break is nothing like Motorhead. Next up is Bad Neighborhood, and this track features a guest keyboard player. The track does not really take off until 4½ minutes in then some burning electric psych guitar is laid down. Waiting everywhere for Anybody starts very slow with some cymbals and feedback, before the bass line sets in and a really phased vocal. What is a lifetime facing the Existence of the Earth is next and one of the new tracks and more melodic but very cool. An excellent cover of the Watcher (Hawkwind/Motorhead) is next and the band is pretty faithful to the song at the beginning but mix in a great jam at the end. Dead End in the Evolution, another new song, has a great driving groove. Strange Smell, the only short song on the CD at 3½ minutes, is another new and more melodic track. Good stuff. Blind is a really masterpiece, clocking in at 16 minutes and a really heavy psychedelic freak out. The CD closes with another very cool track which is basically some killer guitar jamming along with a Sitar improvisation. If you like great psychedelic guitar like Gary Ramon, check these guys out! What a great find. I can't wait to hear the new release later this year. Brilliant stuff! Nasoni is a great label and I highly recommend all the stuff that I have heard. High quality psychedelic rock for the new century! www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.johnson-noise.de

(Scott)

The Magic Bullet Theory - "Poems & Explosions" CD (Play/Rec)
It would be only too easy to accuse The Magic Bullet Theory of bandwagon-jumping, posturing, and stealing every idea they bring on stage, and believe you me, the minute they become famous, that's the very thing we'll do. But looking upon them with a more forgiving eye, bighearted as we are, they are really one of Copenhagen's better party bands, and even if their debut album still owes a hell of a lot to The Hives, it's ever so festive r'n'r with AC/DC shout-along choruses thrown in for good measure. At it's best, the album is 2 minute punkrock songs like "Mercy Me" or "The Truth Is A White Lie", at its lower points the Jon Spencer-esque stylings in midtempo with bluesharp are all heard before. Still, the two stand-out tracks, the twangy "The Big Knockout" and Curtis Mayfield-funky "Hell 9000", alone set this album above average.
http://www.tmbt.dk
http://www.playrec.dk

(Jon A)

Orango - Villa Exile CD (?)
Finding the right running order of the songs on an album can be a difficult task and Orango succeed in presenting the worst song on the record as opening tune. But getting passed that Villa Exile is actually a very good record. They hail from Norway and even though they will probably hate it I would compare them to a more poppy, laid back version of Cato Salsa experience who are also a fave around these quarters. Probably not a fair assumption since Orango got their own thing going but it will give you a picture of how they sound without any shortcuts. Sometimes they go a little indie on you so this is not recommended to Zeke fans but mostly this is
goddamn groovy rock music with an occasional tuned down Hendrix twist. Stoner rock light or stoner pop.....whatever. This is cool and I hope to see them live some day.

(Don K)

Pink Swords - One Night High CD (Mortville Records)
Fast, horny-as-hell, drunken punkrawk from Austin, Texas. "One Night High" contains 12 ferocious testosterone-driven tunes executed in less than 21 minutes. Pink Swords sorta reminds me of bands like The Dirtys, The Stallions and of course The Dwarves - this shit is lethal, like havin' a psychotic rattlesnake goin' ga-ga in yer pants! Singer Pitts Gaffer has that timeless snotty voice not unlike Angry Samoans when they were most pissed off as he rages thru killer tunes like "Bathroom Stall", "Shit On You", "Tonite" and "Enter You". I'd love to see these fuckers on a stage! The semi-psychedelic cover is pretty neat, but a bit odd for this kinda music I think. Anyway, get this debut album if ya know what's good for ya, pilgrim! A bonafide classic punk release.
http://www.pinkswords.com

(Jens)

The Revolvers - End Of Apathy CD (I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records)
I reviewed this German outfit's "I Send You A Rock Star Postcard From L.A." single and liked it, but this album is even better. It's still classic '77 punk with a glamrock vibe, sorta like mix between Voice Of A Generation, Johnny Thunders and (vintage) Hellacopters, but that lame comparison doesn't really do'em any justice I know. Singer and guitarist Uwe Umbruch was in the excellent Public Toys which musical style isn't far from The Revolvers; catchy hardrockin' 70s punk'n'roll. Their lyrics is pretty 'political' for this genre, which is cool, but I don't get lines like: 'The sweet messiah comes down and he'll pray/This is not a revolution this is just my way'!?! On the other hand I dug their trashing of last year's Dead Kennedys tour (without Jello Biafra) in "No Class Reunion". Anyway, "End Of Apathy" is a great album and I'd love to see'em live.
http://www.the-revolvers.com

(Jens)

Sgt. Sunshine (Abstract Sounds ABTS5008CD)
It is always so cool to hear of a new band (Thanks Lene from the Davolina's!), especially when they live close by and you can probably catch them live! The band live in Lund/Malmö, Sweden and play a version of what people call Stoner rock but a bit more spacey at times but still pretty damn heavy and groovy. The opening track Vega begins very spacey with some cool phazed wah guitar, before the heavy stuff hits and the band breaks it wide open. Right before the heavy riff kicks in the vocals of Eduardo (guitars) reminds me of Jack Bruce. You can hear the Cream influence in the sound but on a number of tracks, Kyuss is the ruler. What a great opening number and when you thought it was over, a killer guitar solo blast in at around 6 minutes! Mountain Song is very Kyuss inspired song. Kosmo-Terra has a very hypnotic groove and is a bit more spaced out again. Rio Rojo is a really brilliant track. It starts slow and has a nice melodic guitar line that slowly builds up and up and the band really find some space. Fedra again takes a fresh groove and has a reggae skank thrown in on one of the guitar measures but a nice phased spaced guitar line is played along before the heavy shit hits! Some really great bass playing by Pär on this track. Northern Light begins with a killer wah wah riff with a great mid section that is very spaced and heavy before the Kyuss riff takes over at the end of the song. Death (Like a friend in my Breath) is a pure wall of sound groove. It really reminds me of someone but I can't place it. The CD closes with Culebra, another great composition that starts slow but really takes you places. The whole CD was recorded in two days and has a real excellent live and groovy feeling to it. I like the raw sound and feel of the CD. IF you like bands like Colour Haze and of course Kyuss but can accept things a little looser and mix a bit of Cream in, then you will dig this CD for sure! The band is currently working on new material for a new CD to be recorded later this year. Check out the band on the web.
http://www.sgt-sunshine.com

(Scott)

Silver - "White Diary" CD (Bad Afro)
Everyone should own this record, full stop. Silver from Oslo play glamourously messed-up, beaten-up, and fucked in every way possible rock'n'roll-l-l-l, the truly Scandinavian way like Hellacopters or Flaming Sideburns might have sounded in a better world. Tramped-up in full make-up and junkie chic, looking more like Hanoi Rocks than New York Dolls, Silver go for the big religious r'n'r iconography with blood and sperm flowing everywhere, stigmatized doper's grief, and furious riffing all through the whole 35 minutes of their debut album with bleached singer Blanco sounding like a young, focused and vital Johnny Rotten. Oh, I love this record; if all goes well, you'll be hearing a lot more of this miserable bunch throughout spring and summer, start by digging out this album and then come see them when they play Gutter Light in the spring in Cph.
http://www.badafro.dk
http://www.thesilverband.com

(Jon A)

The Snags - The Snags CD (Alopecia!)
'Recorded at Toe Rag Studios by Liam Watson' always promises a great rock album, and The Snags' debut sure as hell didn't disappoint me. These 12 stompers are completely irresistible energetic modpunk with some cool The Creation, Pretty Things, The Who and The Jam influences. With current horrible state of British rock'n'roll (will somebody please kill The Darkness, for fuck's sake?) bands like The Snags fight the good fight of reclaiming the glory of previous decades. It's a dirty job but this trio is more than able for that heroic assignment - GODSPEED, MATES! And with killer songs like "Fell For You", "Out Of Control Freak", "One Man Riot", "Two Second Rule" and "Don't Dig Your Scene" they are halfway there. While The Snags are not as deliriously sloppy as Billy Childish, fans of his should definitely check out The Snags, its highly infectious!
http://www.thesnags.co.uk

(Jens)

Southern Culture On The Skids - Mojo Box CD (Yep Roc)
Whenever Rick Miller & Co. release an album you can be damn sure it won't suck, cuz just like The Cramps (also Link Wray worshippers), this North Carolina combo's stripped down r'n'r formular is basically flawless. "Mojo Box" is yet another fine dish of southern fried twangy rock'n'roll, maybe one of their best. Swingin' nuggets like "I Want A Love", "Doublewide", "Swamp Fox" "Soulful Garage" (a r&b Stax tribute?) and "Biff Bang Pow" left me boppin' n' hoppin' n' hollerin' for more corn liquor! The CD layout is a hoot with real old ads for bizarre cosmetic products and new fakes ones like an included sticker; 'Mary Huff's Do As I Say Control Hairspray - Put the hold on your hair & the whammy on your man!'. Well, "Mojo Box" has surely put the whammy on me and you'll surrender too when you hear these 13 rockin' rootsy party tunes.
http://www.scots.com

(Jens)

Treeberrys - s/t LP (Sounds of Subterrania)
I'm sad to say it again, but the Beatles will never be forgotten. This Japanese trio sounds like the Beatles, Herman's Hermits and Buddy Holly all wrapped up in one ball of gook action. Normally with modern bands you would add an, "only harder and faster" to that, but this is almost softer…or rather weaker. The liner notes tell us just how good this record is and that it's the fave record of who-ever wrote it. For some reason he couldn't be bothered to write his name at the end, but then again, neither would I. This is pretty awful, but if that's what it takes to get the silk panties of those fine, sexy, soft-skinned, shagable Japanese girlies, I guess you can't blame them. http://www.soundsofsubterrania.com

(SN)

Ultracuerpos - The Right Way CD (GP Records)
"Imagine Elvis, Fred Sonic Smith, Keith Moon, Phil Lynott and Carl Perkins jamming in hell's kitchen" sez the wild press release from this very interesting Spanish band. Big words, but Ultracuerpos are very hard to describe musically as you probably guessed. Vintage Detroit hardrock meets the 60s r&b sound of Stax Records would be my take on'em, it's incredibly infectious soulful rock'n'roll played with a lotta heart. Alvaro Dorda is probably the best Spanish r'n'r singer I've ever heard, and the rest of the band back him up perfectly with their superior musical abilities. These guys sure aint youngsters and must've been in tons of bands before Ultracuerpos. Some of their songs reminded me of Lincoln Street Exit for some strange reason. Great cover of MC5's "Sister Ann" by the way. I'd have to say this CD (with 5 bonus tracks) was one of the biggest and most positive surprises I received for this issue, my friends in Dollhouse will freak when they hear Ultracuerpos, haha . A completely flawless rock'n'roll masterpiece, I'M HOOKED - NOW GIMME MORE! http://www.elbeasto.com

(Jens)

Zone Six- Any Noise is Intended (Sunhair CD001)
Zone Six is a totally improvisational group from Berlin. They have existed for many years and features current and past members of Liquid Visions. This is the 2nd studio CD they have released. This material was recorded in a studio in 2000 but only just now released on the new German Label Sunhair. I saw the band live back in 1998. The past couple of years the band has not played that may gigs but this year looks like they will play more. The CD begins with the long 20 minute track, called Score Track. It begins with some spaced keyboards and loads of bizarre sounds and echoed guitars, etc.. before it builds its groove up. It remains slow and spacey for 10 minutes or so. Now things start to happen and a great Ozric tentacles like jam fest begins. Great stuff. Any Noise is Intended, the title track takes us back out into space for another 14½ minutes but this time, the journey is long, slow and spaced out to the max! Psss…… follows and is a strange soundscape more than a real song. Bauchfellhavarie begins with some strange sounds and a voice saying "Hello" and then everything gets phased and wobbly and very strange. Who put acid in my coke? The Gotthun closes the CD and we are back to songs and this one is much more like what the band have done in the past but the synths play a greater role and sound great. This is a great CD to chill out and take a journey with. The most spaced out stuff the band have ever done, in my opinion. A great way to start a new label, with a first class space rock release!
http://www.zonesix.de

(Scott)

ZubZub (ZubCD01)
This is the name of the solo project by Zia, the former Ozric Tentacles bass player. These tracks were recorded over the last 10 years. This is a private CD-R release with some nice artwork. Former Ozrics keyboard player Joie and current synth wiz, Seaweed as well as Jumping Jon, contribute to the CD as well. The opening number. Brandistan, is great and highly inspired by Eat Static. Warriors is next and features some samples from the movie Warriors. Remember, "Warriors, come out and play"? It opens with a quote and then some intense drum programming. After a few minutes, a cool mideastern synth riff comes in and it sounds like Seaweed. This track is very percussive. The Dalai, has Jon playing some cool horns at the beginning and other parts, before, the really funky techno groove takes over. This reminds me of some of the early Eat Static stuff. Personally, I think Eat Static are the best in the game at this type of music, so if I compare it to Eat Static, that is really saying something. Holefiller begins with some spaced synth drones and fast percussive fills, before taking off in another really cool mushroom infected groove. I am not sure if there is any real bass on the CD but at times it feels like Zia has layered it under the bottom of the sound. It could of course all be computers and ones imagination! Mellocycle is a short 2½ minute synth track with some more horns. A slow lounge space track to break up the middle of the CD. Put it in my Head really is a headphone track with spaced and strange sounds zooming all over the place. Strange but wonderful stuff. Inshalla is an ambient chill out track, quite different from the rest of the CD. Bolshi is next and features Joie from Eat Static. This track reminds me a lot of Nodens Ictus at the beginning but then the hypnotic groove begins where the cool bass line meets the synth line and they battle it out. Incredible track! The CD closes with Paprika.
http://www.rubbishrecords.co.uk/

(Scott)

V/A - They Came From The North CD (Zorch)
This comp is a pretty solid document of today's Scandinavian garagerock scene, mostly 'pure' 60s fuzz style r'n'r and r&b/garagepunk since Zorch wanted to show what the scene has evolved into after the 80s garagerock reign of bands like Nomads and Stomachmouths. There's known bands like Sweatmaster, Baby Woodrose, Flaming Sideburns, The Maggots, The Chronics and The Strollers but also great tunes by bands I'm not that familiar with like Maharajahs, Voladoras, The Satans, Glendoras and The Skreppers (The Seeds meets Dead Kennedys!?). Lotsa other names could easily have been included on this CD, I mostly miss The Defectors, but that's Zorch Productions' choice and a minor complaint on my behalf since there's not a weak track on "They Came From The North". More unreleased and rare tunes could've been included though. Zorch, why not make this into a series of comps? In 20 years those could be the Scandinavian "Nuggets" albums. http://www.zorchproductions.com

(Jens)

V/A - Where The Bad Boys Rock Vol. II 2CD (I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison Records)
This is a damn fine introduction to one of Europe's hardest working labels which specializes mostly in punk/hardrock'n'roll and psychobilly. Berlin's Mad Sin kicks the sampler off in style with a fierce billy version of Turbonenegro's "Rock Against Ass". Other highlights include 69-Hard (RIP), Texas Terri, V8 Wankers (Nine Pound Hammer lives!), Heartbreak Engines, Disco Volante, Duane Peters, Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 (RIP), Squad 21, Sixes & Sevens, Bloodjunkies, and Daybreak Boys. Some of the tracks are probably a bit too generic 'action rock'n'roll/Social Distortion' sounding and some of tunes ain't that 'exclusive unreleased', but that's a minor complaint. There's also a pretty fuckin' neat bootleg with info on all groups. A good drinkin' release.
http://www.peoplelikeyou.de

(Jens)

V/A - "Sue CD 4" CD (Sue)
V/A - "Ultra Productions Psycho Garage!" CD (Ultra Productions)
Listening to Finnish magazine Sue's presentation of the Scandinavian garage scene at the moment might convince you to immidiatly up your roots and move there, if I didn't already live in this dark, freezing hell of central heating and petit bourgoise racism and intolerance. But for anyone doubting the vitality of the scene, this is proof that it is indeed alive and kicking the kack, even admitting that your personal faves might not be represented. It sounds like we've got something here. Featured artists are Baby Woodrose, Turbonegro, The Micragirls, Division Of Laura Lee, The Teenage Idols, Danko Jones, and thus, this cd is a quite good introduction to Scandinavian garage if you don't really know much about it, or if you thought you knew everything. Nice packaging, too.
New York, on the other hand, I visited a few years ago and even seriously considered moving there for a short while because of the whole vibe of the city, but that vibe is nowhere to be found on this representation of Ultra Productions featuring The Ultra 5, Zero Child and Boburh & The Bare Bones. It starts out promising though, with The Ultra 5 banging out "House O Fun" like a deranged Doors, but from there on in it stumbles ever deeper into some heroin-chic drug psychosis. All very evil-natured and crude, just not very engaging and done to death before.
You might want to check with a guidebook before you pack your bags for your favourite band's hometown.
http://www.sue.fi
http://www.ultraproductions.org

Sue: Ultra Productions:

(Jon A)

The Von Zippers - The Crime Is Now LP (Alien Snatch)
I have been an eager collector of the early Von Zippers 7"s and have always found that they possessed that little extra that made them stand out from the rest of the snotty garage rock bands fueled on punk rock rage.
Von Zippers sound like they have nothing better to do but get drunk, get into bar fights and play punk rock. Hostile and fucked up just like punk rock should be. The Crime Is Now is the second album by these Canadians who have a bunch of releases out on Estrus too. Not too many people in Europe know about them which is a shame. Hopefully this release on the German Alien Snatch! label can change that a bit. The sleeve art by Moriarity is awesome
and do yourself a favor and get it on vinyl - which of cource is always recommended - it really shows why vinyl is so much cooler than CDs.

(Don K)

Texas Motherfuckers/The Riots - "Biggest And Baddest Rock & Roll Punk Bands" split 7" (Tear It Up Records)
Yeah!!! A split single with names likes these and a song called "Fuck It Up" sure sounds promising, and here you get just what you asked for: Rude Swedish metalrock of the Motörhead/Zen Guerilla school. Stupid, loud, smelly, and no good. Cool. We dig it.
http://www.the-riots.com

(Jon A)