Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Terrorsurfs "Surf Bomb"

(Killjoy Records 2016)

Surf Bomb
Loco Dinosaurio

Fresh from the sun-drenched climes and sandy beaches (well, overcast drizzly climes and stony beaches) of the UK come The Terrorsurfs with their first single on everyone's favourite DIY-as-fuck label Killjoy Records. In true Killjoy fashion it's a limited edition of 500 copies (50 pink/black - only available from the band, 50 turquoise/white - only available at Killjoy Records and 400 black slabs of sonic rays of sunshine). Right, that's that out of the way, on to the sounds. The A side is excellent powersurf with catchy as fuck guitar which to my ears is equal parts surf-twang and groovy garage goodness rolled into one. It reminds me a lot of the stylings of US outfit The Irving Klaws (only they use slap bass). Surf Bomb is a simplistic yet memorable titillating two minutes of twangtastic transcendence.  Flip her over and we have the more complex Loco Dinosaurio which is another winner. Fine craftsmanship with more of that plectrum pounding surf with a twist of spaghetti western. I appear to have received a test pressing (if you look at the image I posted up there) as the actual pressings are a lot sexier. So why not surf on over to the links below (did you see what I did there?) and pick up this fine example of new millennium surf before it's sold out. 

The O'Prez



Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Nausea Bomb "Bonechestra"

(Crazy Love Records/Zombies Union Records 2016)

Oschestra
Death Floor
Dick Cut Drinker
Blood Fall
Pussycat Vampire
Wake Up Your Madness

More French nastiness to be had, this time coming from Nausea Bomb, a female-fronted punkabilly outfit with their new mini album out on a Crazy Love/Zombies Union Records collaboration. I say female-fronted which is true but vocals are shared with the male contingent in the band. Also, when I say punkabilly, I don't mean that annoying as fuck hardcore punk with a double bass; this is more of a 1970s anthemic-punk sound...with a double bass. For a quartet the sound is very full, with a lot going on rhythmically in the background. I only like a handful of punk bands as I'm very picky when it comes to that genre, but Nausea Bomb seem to be influenced by the same handful of punk bands that I like. In fairness I can't understand a word they're singing as it's in French but then I can barely understand most psychobilly lyrics sung in English anyway. The production is flawless which gives a kind of "live in the studio" feel where all the raw energy has been captured. Those choruses though are what makes Nausea Bomb stand out from the rest of their punkabilly cohorts. As I alluded to earlier, anthemic! A crackin' little release from Nausea Bomb with some crackin' little ditties to be heard. The album is available on CD and limited edition vinyl. Links below...

The O'Prez



Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Lucianos "Think Twice Before Cheating"

(Killjoy Records 2016)

Think Twice Before Cheating
Dark Angelo

Germany's Killjoy Records have unleashed upon us their new Buzzkill 45 series which gives a big nod in the direction of 1960's surf 45s. But this is no museum piece. Fresh out on the label is the new single from French powersurf trio the Lucianos. Featuring members of psychobilly demi-gods the Astro Zombies and Demented Are Go you just know this is going to be quality stuff before the needle hits the groove. The A side explains in no uncertain terms why this is referred to as powersurf. It's a surf instrumental with balls. Guitarist Gino Luciano must have forearms like Popeye the dextrous-fingered-freak of nature. There's a hint of Spaghetti Western going on too. The B side kicks off with a more subdued feeling. Perfect for sipping cocktails on the beach whilst being fanned by a palm leaf-holding native. However, as the song progresses you can forget all the sun and fun you normally equate with the original surf movement of the 1960s. There's an appealing dark vibe to this one (the clue was in the song title) which makes you think peril is just around the corner.

You can pick up the single from the band or from Killjoy Records (links below). It's a limited pressing of 500 copies: 400 black, 50 clear/white both of which are only available from the band or there's 50 blue which you can buy from Killjoy. Killjoy have also released a full length album from the boys on cassette Yes, cassette!

The O'Prez


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The Spastiks "Cannibal Clan"

(Crazy Love Records 2016)

Cannibal Clan (From Bambooland)
Wolfman Crawl
Upskirt Blues
Dynamite

Leaping testicles of steel! Guido Neumann's big package gave me much pleasure this morning; for inside there were not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4....ok there were 4...4 7 inch discs of delight. My ocular deficiency in the colour department was put to the challenge, but I'm reliably informed that this 45 of frolics comes in black (I knew that one) and in very limited numbers of green, yellow and magenta. Now then, what does it sound like? Who cares?? Check out that erect-nipple-inducing artwork! Fuck me pink who ever did this is the king of art. Everything from the front cover, the rear, the labels...this monarch of mastur...I mean mastery should be seated on a throne immediately. Oh, hang on, it was me. I did it. Me. Johnny O'Prez.... www.the-oprez.com and ww.facebook.com/TheArtOfTheOPrez
Johnny O'Prez. The King Of Art

But that's enough subtle hints about the artist (me...I did the art)...onwards to the sounds. Myself and guitarist Tim Gagné are bffs and he's been pleasuring me for years with his various musical output.  I've always been an admirer of his guitar style which has a lot of rockabilly twang. Therefore I was gagging to get me claws on this release from his band The Spastiks. The trio of Nu Yoik ne're-do-wells have been tirelessly honing their craft for ages now and it's evident upon listening to this EP that that work has paid off. It's real underground psychobilly the way it's meant to sound. Lashings of psycho perfectly infused with that rockabilly twang I mentioned earlier. Couple that with B movie lyrics and a twist of the perverse and that sums up The Spastiks. Sonically, the mixing is pristine. The slap bass and drums compliment each other perfectly and the guitar almost adds an air of menace. It transports me back to a time when I was hanging around street corners in me 14-hole Dr Martens. I love this release. If this doesn't see The Spastiks rise through the ranks of the psychobilly scene then the denizens must all be tone deaf. 

The O'Prez

BUY THE RECORD(S) (I've linked to the black...grab the coloured ones quick)
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Thursday, April 14, 2016

The Test Pilots "Parachute Party"

(Street13 2016)

The Blob
Thin Blue Line
Flipped Out, Twisted n' Trashed
Deadly Rhythms
Test Pilot Beat
What Have I Become?
The Doom
Case Closed
Jumble Stomp
Can't You See?

Holy fucking shit...what did I just listen to?...I'm off to listen to it again....*returns after multiple orgas..I mean...listens*. Gothenburg's Test Pilots have landed with a début album that is like a slap across the chops with a wet flannel. If you've been lulling around in the land of run-of-the-mill psychobilly and suffering from sonic erectile dysfunction then this is both the wake-up call you've been waiting for and the viagra for your ears. Mine perked up immediately and haven't gone flaccid since. If you bought their EP you know what to expect. But that teasing entrée wasn't quite satiating enough. We all wanted more. Well here's the main course and I've drooled all down the crease of me moobs. Straddling the line once more between psychobilly and neo rockabilly but doing so in a way that really makes you sit up and take notice. I love the production on this album....especially the sound of the snare drum. When coupled with the slap bass it gives the sound a great big pair of hairy bollocks. Then of course add Tony's distinctive, incomparable guitar playing and Matt's sore throat vocals and suddenly an enormous phallus sprouts from betwixt those aforementioned testes. This is hands down my favourite release of the year thus far. You can purchase the CD or vinyl from Street13 or give Martin's Garage a shout. Go on. You know you want it, you dirty fecker!

The O'Prez


Saturday, March 12, 2016

Blue Rockin' "Back To Blue"

(Crazy Love Records 2016)

Deep Red Wine
Evil Eyes
I Hope You Die
Insane Thoughts
Gone Daddy Gone
Keep On Walking
Part Of The Game
One Night One Day
Wasting My Time
Serial Killer Dance
Last Goodbye
Loaded Gun

Blue Rockin', a band whose moniker (and album title) might lead one to believe that the ditties within are of the rhythm 'n' blues variety....WROOOOONG! Well, there might be a slight hint of blues here and there but anyone familiar with the band will be expecting some rough diamond neo rockabilly/psychobilly of the rockin' variety. Expectations met! 11 self-penned pounding, raw, raucous gems and a testicle-tightening cover of the Violent Femmes Gone Daddy Gone.There's a bit of a garage/trash element to their sound too which keeps the whole thing fresh instead of getting bogged down in predictability. There's a lot more to this album than the 3 main ingredients of guitar, slap bass and drums. There are some appetising side-orders thrown in to the mix to make your ears salivate. It's a veritable cornucopia of sounds of the underground sex-fest. Ich fuckin' liebe Blue Rockin', me. 
 The O'Prez



Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Véloniños "Véloniños"



(Rue End Records 2016)

Alabamaman
Red Diesel Medicine
Helenstown
Hey Véloniño!
Levengrove Park
Mad Cat Dynamo
Preacherman
Bully For You!
These Quiet Lands
Hillbilly Girl

Not since Cadbury reinstated the Wispa have I been this satiated. I didn't realise how much I missed the velvety tones of Davie Duncan's voice. Since the Shakin' Pyramids headed off in to the land of legendary status with their farewell gift of Celts And Cobras, I thought that was it. We'll never hear from the boys again. But, here they are, well two of em, in a new incarnation with an album that takes up where Celts And Cobras left off. Davie and Ken are back with their new outfit Véloniños with Laurie Cuffe and Shug Jamieson completing the ensemble. I bought their digital download EP a while back and was immediately enamoured with their sound. It was almost like coming home. Fast forward a few months and Véloniños announced their first full length was available for pre-order. Pre-order it I did and have been listening to it almost all the time since its arrival. It's an eclectic mix of up-tempo well produced rockabilly and roots infused sonic delights. But, there are a couple of ballads on here that for me are thee standout tracks. Delivered with a heartfelt sincerity that can sometimes be lost in a studio setting. Véloniños are a class act. The album is written and produced entirely by the band themselves and they've also opted for some atypical sleeve artwork. I love a band that doesn't conform to the usual formulaic rockabilly conventions. The lyrical content in some cases seems to be stories from the their own lives put to song, and done so adroitly. I love a good thought provoking story as much as I love a good song. This is what the boys bring to the table on this album. It's not all serious though. There's plenty of manic rockabilly here too. As I said earlier...it's an eclectic mix. Excellent musicianship and that voice! The album is available directly from the band and a plethora of other outlets in both physical and digital formats....now for the daunting task of adding those links....

The O'Prez

ps....my booklet is better than your booklet.......




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Véloniños Official
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