The Dirtbombs - 'Party Store' (Digital Release: 11 Jan '11)
Surely one of the most idiosyncratically talented bands around, The Dirtbombs are a Detroit based project of singer/guitarist Mick Collins, combining funk, soul, punk, garage, rock and now, techno influences. All this whilst staying true to a unique vision and an instantly recognisable sound. It's bands like this that make music worth paying attention to.
At the beginning of the 21st century, 'Ultraglide In Black' their album of "covers" of 60’s/70’s soul songs broke both them and the Detroit scene and the follow up, 'Dangerous Magical Noise' is a supreme garage rock record. Now they have turned their attention to the Techno music of the 80’s/90’s, and with a vengeance.
'Party Store' is another album of covers – songs viewed through the prism of The Dirtbombs’ twin drums, heavy bass, fuzz guitar attack. They open sounding like The Glitter Band meets Kraftwerk and rip through 'Cosmic Cars' and 'Sharivari', before tackling the classic dance anthem 'Good Life', which sounds amazing, and the album takes off from there.
'Strings Of Life' re-interprets that instrumental house classic, 'Alleys Of Your Mind' is mighty Phil Spector future lounge and then the crescendo of the 21-minute 'Bug In A Bass Bin'. Magnificent. Funky instrumental 'Jaguar' follows before winding down a bit with 'Tear The Club Up', leading to the closer....whose title is in Japanese....I think.
By now you probably realise that I think this band and this album are both a bit special. Not many bands make a string of distinctive but coherent top-notch albums. So hats off to dual drummers Ben Blackwell and Pat Pantano, Ko Melina on Fuzz Gtr, Zack Weedon on bass and the man himself, Mr Mick Collins – he may or may not be the hardest working man in show business, but he’s definitely one of its great and daring talents. 2011 is already the year of "Who Dares, Wins".
9/10
STREAM: The Dirtbombs - Sharevari by forcefieldpr
'Party Store' is out digitally now and is possibly being released on CD in the UK on January 24th but has a confirmed release of February 1st in the US.
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