While this is a new band to me, Mean Motor Scooter previously released the ‘Hindu Flying Machine’ album, plus other EPs, but they seem to be finding their niche here. The reviews name check the B52s and Dead Kennedys, of which more later. These five tracks seem quite at home in the current, warm spell, isolation notwithstanding. It’s kind of beach music, kind of dance music, but, whatever you want to call it, it’s catchy.

‘Aristobrat’ pairs a sunny, upbeat tune to the lyrics “I play my best when I feel depressed”. It’s practically jaunty, in a “damn you pesky kids” kind of way. ‘The Void’ comes on like a rival gang to King Salami And The Cumberland Three, staccato riff and dance beat, but with added organ swirls. Any time is a good time to dance, but especially these days.

‘Portals’ is a side-step into a freakier world. Starting off like Syd Barrett’s poppier moments, before crashing into louder psyche-pop. ‘Zombie Cop’ is where the B52s comparisons are warranted, which is no bad thing. The organ and backing vocals compliment the riff, and the frenetic voice of main Scooter Sammy Kidd is nodding in the direction of Biafra. This continues on the final song, ‘Put Me Down Like A Dog’, a wall of surf-fuzz wipeout music, berating all the things he can’t do. Well, we can currently all relate, unexpectedly, to that. But, this is certainly good-time music. Mean Motor Scooter aren’t taking themselves hugely seriously, but are committed to the tunes. Get groovy.

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Author: Martin Chamorette