London trio Belleruche delivers another stellar song “3 Amp Fuse.” It’s a beautiful throwback track that balances traditional techniques and electric beats. Lead singer Kathrin deBoer’s soothing voice echoes classic jazz and blues over a catchy beat making it hard to define.
Reminiscent of a classic 1970s music video, “3 Amp Fuse” is everything you want in a good music video- an awesome song with killer visuals that don’t detract from the song. The simple structure is compelling, creative and most of all, charming. Belleruche delivers another magnificent music video that captures your eyes and ears effectively without doing too much. In the age of nano-second attention spans, take notice because this is one helluva video.
--Mr Brownstone
It's fitting that on my iTunes library, Nostalgia 77 is alphabetized right next to Nouvelle Vague. Both bands mine a way-cool, retro lounge-ready vibe. Where Nouvelle Vague specializes in jazz samba versions of classic 80's songs, Nostalgia 77 explores their own muse of downtempo, reggae-jazz inflected goodness. "Simmerdown" is the first single from Nostalgia 77's 4th studio album and it's one to cherish. Featuring the sexy, downright smoky vocals of German singer, Josa Peit, "Simmerdown" is what Bob Marley may have sounded like if he'd gotten into martinis, not herb.
Best as I can tell, Nostalgia 77 is the work of one producer/musician extraordinare, Benedic Lamdin, and together with vocalist Josa he's hit paydirt here. "Simmerdown" is a lush yet ethereal must-play song for the end of the working day. A song to lead in the nights romantic activities after the hectic pace has melted away. Backside "Skin and Bones," brings a faint reggae pulse to the jazzy beat and plunks us down firmly in underground cool jazz lounge territory. Again, Josa's voice is hypnotic and I'm falling deeply into her trance.
Really an E.P., not a single but still, it made it's way to my player tonight, so there you have it. Trent Fox and the Tenants crank the party up a couple of notches with some home-brewed, surf-laden, garage pop of the highest order. "Mess Around" is pure garage-rock retro heaven with shrieks, "yeah, yeahs" and a damn singable chorus. "Outta My Mind" is a time warp of amp-sliced fuzz and surf kicks with a stuttering beat and harmony vocal line straight outta 1964. "Jokes!" ups the ante a bit with a The Beat-esque punk attitude and some killer surf guitar. "Old Lady" and "Sounds Fine to Me" round out the set with the whole shebang clocking in at about 11 minutes playing time.
A brief burst of garage glory, like a flashing meteor. Always cool when you when you catch one of those.
Released earlier this year on Big Neck Records, the Fatal Figures are made up of Aaron, Tracy, and Scott from the Blowtops. After a decade of plowing one gushy vein of garage rock horror show after another with the Blowtops, the remaining members decided to move on and explore new territory. While that sounds like something dramatic, in reality the Fatal Figures are doing what they've always done best. This is pure garage punk-death rock n roll. We got amped up, creeped-out Cramps here, some serious Pussy Galore and a whole lotta fun.
"Blue Zed" is the highlight here with Aaron Adduci being a hypnotizing front man. I don't know what this cat takes before a show, but lock it up, you don't want that getting loose in public. His vocals are a sputtered death moan of Boris Karloff meets The Sonics hysteria. The bottom end of this song is purely subsonic. An intense, mesmerizing listen. "Alright" is a Pussy Galore cover and really holds place until these cats dawn the creepshow punk and blast out their next original. Released on blood red vinyl, of course.
Yeah, yeah, I know it's gonna cost you $10 to track one of these down on ebay, but damn if it isn't worth every freaking penny. Find the one on Bronze records with the picture sleeve. Just seeing Lemmy, Fast Eddie and Philthy Animal caged behind that fence is worth the ten bucks alone. Damn, it looks like Philthy Animal is gonna eat his way outta that cage! Priceless.
Oh, yeah, the music. What can I say, it's Motorhead. It's "Louie Louie". It's rough and heavy and the meanest "Louie Louie" you've ever heard. Yet it still grooves. If you ever wanted to know if Motorhead could groove here's your answer. A fricking fantastic cover with heavy riffage, killer solo and Lemmy in fine form.
Backside "Tear ya Down" is simply one of my favorite Motorhead songs ever. Fast as anything from prime Motorhead time period, this is a pre-Ace of Spades explosion of Lemmy fury, Fast Eddie adrenaline and Philthy Animal Taylor rampage. A killer chorus and tight songwriting. This is kinda like the Ramones of the Motorhead catalog, meaning if it wasn't so powerful, heavy and frightening, somebody else could almost make this a pop song. Love it.
In the end, this single has special meaning around the Ripple office. Not only was it the first Motorhead single I ever bought (brand new, off the shelf), but when Pope and I first met this was one of our first musical bonding moments. At one point I even gave him my copy as a gift. Regrettably, it melted in the sun, so I went out a got another. Got one for you too, Pope.
So brother, this ones for you.
-- Racer