SHA-LA-LEES - Hex LP

Sounds of Subterrania.

Third album from this flaming Flamish/ Dutch Four-Piece - the second on Sounds of Subterrania. Guitar, bass, harmonica and drums. The basic tools you need to grind out solid, loud, prime crawl, top notch rock’n’roll. “The stuff that don’t save souls” as Lux Interior puts it! Featuring 13 songs of love (both good and all gone wrong), death, life and just general fucking around on a daily basis. Stuff you can relate to. As a huge fan of the superb Belgien beers I would love to write something clever about this record and relate it to Quadruples and Trappists and Saisons, but fuck that for now. This goes perfectly with loads of lager - preferably in big glasses - and cheap alchohol! Kicks off in perfect style with what you think is an instrumental with an in-your-face harmonica solo followed by a blistering guitar! But what for it! “In Motion” dives into a perfect little r’n’r tune with a certain Memphis feel to it - heavily amplified by the chorus line “Strong Come On” I’m sure fans of Reigning Sounds and Oblivians will have a small (drunken) smile on their face while listening to this fine slab of hard bluesy rock action. My original plan was NOT to mention “O, Oblivian!” but there you go… There is a certain laid back 70s rock inspiration sprinkled all over the record recalling splendid bands like The Dictators, MC5 and Rory Gallagher during his “Top Priority” and “Stage Struck” era. Songs like “My Love is Gone” and “Soft Kill” are knee deep stuck in the best sounds of the 60s rock tradition. However these guys never sound retrospective or old-school. Totally fresh and rocking in a free new world of people who actually believe that true rock’n’roll never dies. Short, sharp, to-the-point compositions with no superflous bullshit or pointless ideas. You even get a one and a half minute ballad and a two minute country tune - electric spaghetti style! I feel like writing motherfucker now, but I can’t really get it context. Wait a minute! Maybe “motherfucker” is the best way to describe these four fine fellows. I’m sure that is the word I’ll be throwing at them next time I see them live! Closing number “Don’t Bury Me Before I’m Dead” is a plus four (no pun intended) minutes bluesy death rock tune, not unlike something Jeffrey Lee Pierce could have written on a good day (if he had any good days that is). Sheer class!