Berlin Blackouts – ‘Double EP’ (Wanda Records)

Berlin Blackouts – ‘Double EP’ (Wanda Records)

Eye eye what do we have here then? A new Eye-inspired release from Germany’s finest Berlin Blackouts. If you’ve not already seen it they have put together eleven Eye inspired tunes on this eye-catching new record. It’s twenty-five minutes of punk rock inspired by your peepers. splattered amongst the original tunes they have some right spectacles covered like the classic ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’. but more eye-opening is their take on the ‘Dirty Dancing’ slushy pomp rock-lite that is ‘Hungry Eyes’.

So it’s not just a lame cover album, it’s not patchy either, the Blackouts deliver quality melodic power pop, punk rock and from the off, they dish it up from the punchy ‘Kubrick Eyes’. They then kick in with the sultry saxophone intro of ‘Hungry Eyes’ and you won’t be able to look away they’ve covered a tune perfectly. Sure it’s a huge melody overload and the Ramones-like chorus is simply delicious. Ten out of Ten for having the balls and for the interpretation. Nail, head, hit! Hell, when you’re on a roll why stop? ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ is tackled next and again it’s sublime in its delivery and interpretation.

They sound like it was the best of fun to have recording an album and speeding through ‘In The Eyes Of’ and ‘Eyes Of 84’ before smashing ‘Dead Dogs Dancing In Your Eyes’. The ebb and flow of the record is excellent and out there from the punk rock smashers to the pop-like bop n roll of ‘Doctor My Eyes’ taking us back to the ’70s and a pair of creepers with some teddy boy drapes for added authenticity this could and should be a leg up record to bigger and better things and radio bods should be all over this album filling the airwaves with these tunes.

I loved Radio Dead Ones and Berlin Blackouts are a fine post project I’ve gotten my beady eye on what the band were up to and have the records and this is the finest project the Blackouts have managed thus far and its great to hear they still have the chops to stay in the game and deliver excellent music. Take the plunge and check out these tunes and delve headfirst into the Berlin Blackouts they deserve it – They rock and love to make a spectacle of themselves and eye think this album can and will be enjoyed far and wide – get on it kids this album is a banger!

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Author: Dom Daley

Berlin Blackouts – Nastygram Sedation’ (Wanda Records)

Berlin Blackouts – Nastygram Sedation’ (Wanda Records)

End of the year is when album come out that tend to pile up as they come thick and fast and this year it’s easy for one or two to sneak under the radar and to my eternal shame ‘Nastygram Sedation’ is one that snook under and fell down the cracks but to be fair it was only by a few weeks and you can thank me later for reminding you about this little beauty.

 

With a bright production, this third long-player is their best not because its the most recent but they’ve managed to have gotten better each time which is pretty much the reason to make a new record anyway isn’t it? Sure they don’t stray from what it is they do (’77 Punk if you’re looking for something to hang it on)  but, the songs just seem more (dare I Say It) mature or better written, more professional whatever… You know what I mean. They’ve really nailed that snotty punk rock Steve Jones guitar Chug with some great pop sensible melodies and Bev has really come into his own with his vocals which is probably the main difference from record to record, he’s using his voice so well and varying it to great effect. take ‘Shut up You Slave’ for example. then, to follow it with a fantastic stomper ‘MSP’ again nothing new sound-wise (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it)  but a really energetic song with an easy chorus to get into.

It’s a record that bursting with energy all over the place the album’s opener is a prime example, a right proper slab of glam-punk if ever there was one.  If you listen closely you can hear Stiv tapping his foot in recognition of their efforts. Wherever you drop the needle there will be quality.  At the top of the record, you have the catchy ‘Dead Dogs Dancing In Your Eyes’ (Fuck Knows what its about? I’m not bothered its a top tune)

They go out with a bang as ‘We’ve Come to Destroy’ takes you home at a gallop as it thunders towards the finish line.  A fantastic way to end any year is with some good music and 2019 might not have been to everyone’s liking but rest assured if every album was as good as this bad boy then you’d say punk rock was in rude health and you would be absolutely bang on the money.  Top band – top album.

Buy ‘Nastygram Sedition’ Here

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Author: Dom Daley

Rainy Days & Mondays

Rainy Days & Mondays

Next up we’ve gone down under and found this bunch of misfits Bakers Eddy with their ‘On My Own’

To wrap it up we’ve got a new video from one of our favs Berlin Blackouts who are back with ‘anti-Cap Messiah’