The Good The Bad
New School Surf & Flamenco
This band features Johan Lei Gellett on pounding drums (heavy on the ride cymbal), bassist Marioj Ramdas and wild guitarist Adam Olsson ( previously with The Aim) whose vibrato arm swoops underline the references in the group’s publicity to ‘New School Surf’. I didn’t know that they surfed in the band’s native Copenhagen, maybe it’s just the sound they like and have adopted.
The group are down to play the Hop Farm Festival this year and this is after appearances at Roskilde and – get this ! – a Harley Davidson bike rally out in Latvia. I can’t see Mika notching up that one…
How do they sound ? Like an overdriven Cramps given the task of destroying their instruments within ten numbers, a big dirty whomping ragged noise. Don’t you wish that Top Of the Pops was still going so we could see this kind of act between Adele and NeeYo ? It’s strange is it not that would-be cutting edge hiphoppers seem to idolise Elton John and Phil Collins, exposing their core wimpiness, while the likes of this crew are the bastard offspring of Link Wray ? I wouldn’t like to be this group’s guitar tech, it must be a fulltime job. If they can keep this fiery attack and add just a little more sophistication or subtlety, we might just have a new group that – at least instrumentally – has an echo or two of English mod guitar powerpop masters The Creation. How welcome would that be ?
I don’t have track titles on the review, but doubtless we’ll be sent the album at some point
Pete Sargeant www.fairhearing.co.uk
