Strap in and we can begin. Synth punks The Scanners rev up their engine for a blast of pure punk rock synth style. Blasting off into orbit with their sharp yet oh-so-enjoyable blasts of punk rock. It’s rapid, retro yet thoroughly futuristic from the opening energetic race off that is ‘No Return’ It is like friends are electric and whilst they might have one foot firmly planted in the Devo or Numanoid past they are doing it all on their own terms and mixing the furious punk rock/new wave with guitars very much involved there is a fuller sound with the pops and sequenced tweaks of modern technology and none more than the opening energetic blast that is ‘No Return’. This sets the tone for what’s to come.
This electro bop til you drop is rapid and contains boundless energy as the band blasts through the eleven tracks on offer you get whipped up in the maelstrom and I found myself daydreaming about what out there and would they welcome this soundtrack. ‘Brutal City’ is…Brutal I guess, it can be the only way to describe what’s going on. then the pace relents as the bass throbbing ‘Zero Gravity’ sort of mashes up the Britpop bass sound preferred by dare I say it Blur and their more Buzzcocks-inspired songs of their younger days. These gonzo synth punks kick up one hell of a shitstorm as the album careers towards oblivion as their Lo-Fi punches through your speakers tracks like ‘R.O.B.O.T.’ shift through the gears dreaming of space voyages whilst making one hell of a noise it’s a captivating ride and a lot of fun.
None of the songs overstay their welcome and are pretty much all short and very sharp. they also manage to create a variety throughout the record and it never manages to sound boring or samey and who doesn’t love those distorted Tubeway Army style vocals or that whirling synth on tracks like ‘Feel The Blade’ or the thrashing ‘Satellite Rain’ that race to its own implosion.
There are gems throughout this album and every play I think I’ve identified a new favourite song and ‘Cosmos Kid’ might just be the latest. Buried deep in the record its purposeful guitar riff is perfectly complimented by the keyboard tweaks and whirls that really mess with your head (in a good way of course).
I love that bands like Scaners exist and labels like Beluga release them I only regret more people don’t get fully invested in what’s going on. Pick up this glorious racket and spread the word The Scaners ‘iii’ is a banger, that’s a fact kids, let this into your musical orbit and strap yourself in for one hell of a punk rocket ride. Buy It!
OK, kids, The Singles club is open for March and with a few choice picks we got a right mixed bag of genre-hopping choices to suit every pallet. WE’ve got punk of all persuasions and old rockers – we’ve got some legends of several scenes and a few eyebrow raisers as well as some really exciting new bands for you starting with the single of the month as Lemmy said March or Die…
Dead Meat – Dead Meat EP (No Front Teeth Records) What a way to start the singles club round up. A four track EP on one of my favourite labels some trashy punk rock featuring some of my favourite bands out there making a noise at the moment. This one is chuffin’ awesome. Snotty, fast, down n dirty Rock and Roll. Blink and you’ll miss this one it features four track lasting between a minute and some and two minutes and some and the players have pedigree featuring members of THE CAVEMEN, SUICIDE GENERATION and THE SPEEDWAYS need I say any more? Put it this way if you don’t curl out a smile when pogoing to ‘I Give Up’ then real Rock and Roll maybe isn’t for you. Just buy it out get out of here its a keeper and my record of the month! Buy it here
Faz Waltz – ‘Grown Up Guy’ (Spaghetty Town Records (USA) and Wanda Records (Germany)) Since forming in 2007 Faz Waltz have been a non-stop rock machine recording six albums these boys are relentless. ‘Grown Up Guy’ is what Faz Waltz do they Rock and Roll with the best of them. You wanna call it retro 70s bubblegum boot boy rock and roll then fine but this lot are tough and that riff is a cracker as are those BV’s.
The B side is just as punchy it’s like a party on plastic they’ve captured the mood perfectly and this one comes with added shakers and handclaps so what’s not to like? Faz does breakdowns and solos with the best of them and this ones no exception. Just like the TV Times, I didn’t realise there was so much in it!
The Scaners – ‘X-Ray Glasses: On’ (Spaghetty Town Records (USA), Adrenalin Fix Music (FR), Dangerhouse Skylab (FR) and Ghost Highway Records (Spain) Supersonic gonzo-synth punk – Intergalactic swirling garage rock’n roll spaceship – Soundtrack for UFO pilots and weird aliens and decent thinking punk rockers (with taste)
First, it appeared on the 2019 LP The Scaners II, and two brand new songs are the order of the day for these loons. Blink and you’ll miss opener ‘Alien Boy’ with its sub-one-minute slam dance. What a mint tune that’s how to do it punk rockers. In contrast, the numanoid feast that is ‘X-Ray Glasses’. Sounding like a really cool Tubaway Army thumper from the dumbed-down bass line to the swirling synth and robotic vocals – great stuff. ‘I Really Wanna Know’ isn’t hanging about either. Brief and fleeting but a lot of fun. The Scaners are delivering the good big time on this right smart offering. What a top single.
The Outliners – ‘House Of Thieves’ (self Release)
Unleashing slamming punk cuts and appealing hooks, Brit threesome THE OUTLINES are planning their attack across the UK with the release of their new EP, House Of Thieves, It features the track ‘Mind Trip’ which they were kind enough to shoot a video for. they are the creation of singer and guitarist, Kyle Peters, who formed the band in 2015 after leaving Ferocious Dog. Peters enlisted old school friends Martyn Brown (Bass) and Dean Hill (Drums), and the newly rejuvenated three-piece began rehearsals to craft a live set and to shape a sound that would be powerful and raw, but also refined. As you will notice the song is built around a sharp guitar riff and full-bodied sound. It should do really well and will go down really well live. ‘Man Down’ is a lively opener as it comes out of the speakers swinging. Bullish and full-bloodied. ‘Mind Trip’ is more of the same with a great production giving the songs a bright punchy sound and giving it the room to just do its thing. The title track of the EP is a bit of a beast with some piraty backing vocals as the verses swirl around a decent riff it’s a really strong introduction to the band who can rock out and show restraint. Go check em out Website / Spotify
Dystopian Future Movies – ‘Black Cloaked’ (Lasairfhíona Records) Second single off their soon to be released album ‘Inviolate’
Bona Rays – ‘Poser’ ( Flashback Records) Bona Rays’ Poser, is the last great undiscovered UK 1970’s Punk single to see light of day and the only UK punk single recorded in the 1970s fronted by a woman of West Indian descent. Poser is finally released on limited 7 on 28th February.
Back in 1978, Punk Songwriter and Guitarist Tony Keating had a few songs he’d written and was looking for a singer. A friend encountered Chas at a tube station after a gig and asked her if she was interested in singing on Tony’s tracks. A few weeks later, they had christened themselves Bona Rays These tracks were pushed around labels in ’78 but to no avail that is until now. sounding a little dated it’s Drum Toms and synth giving it some on ‘Poser’.
40 years later, Chas was moving house and decided to sell her records. She took them to Flashback Records where owner Mark Burgess bought the collection. In amongst these records was an unknown 7” acetate. After Chas left the shop, intrigued by this oddity, Mark played ‘Poser’ on the shop system. Fate stepped in as Chas walked back into the shop at that moment to sell a few DVDs she’d forgotten to bring along earlier and said – “Oh – you’re playing our song”. What are the chances eh? www.bonarays.bandcamp.com
Billy Talent – ‘Reckless Paradise’ (Spinefarm Records) Canadian rockers Billy Talent have released the first official single from their forthcoming album, due out this fall. The song, “Reckless Paradise” showcases the powerful driving riffs and pointed lyrics the band is famous for. Produced by Billy Talent guitarist and Juno Award nominee (Producer of the Year) Ian D’Sa, “Reckless Paradise” is available now everywhere you listen to music. With a huge riff and distinctive vocals, Billy Talent sits between ‘Dookie’ and something totally harder rockin’ if that’s a place but the layered vocals and heavy guitar will lend itself to a wide audience.
City Saints – ‘Peter and the Test Tube Babies on the Radio’ (Sunny Bastards Records)
Swedish punks City Saints play loud guitar, bass and drums street punk. With the A-side, good old sing along with a happy go lucky hook on the chorus and a gang vocal even the drunkest of listener can join in with.
Recorded with Peter Bywaters from peter and the Test Tube Babies. It features just the one original and two covers. The band managed to capture a lot of big fun in the recording of this A-Side and having Peter from the Test Tube Babies shouting along is great I’m not sure he would shit em though they’re a bunch of buff lads.
There does seem to be a theme with the two other tunes as they follow on the time-honored tradition of Peter & his Test Tube Babies as they smash ‘Alcohol’. Then they rock and roll their way through ‘Giving Up Drinking’ with aplomb. Peter will be pleased with the credits but I think more so the fact he’s been honored with two fine takes by this handy band of Swedes who sure do know how to Rock and Roll. Facebook
Biff Byford – ‘Me And You’ (Silver Lining Music) Now everyone loves a bit of Biff. his endearing endurance is something to celebrate and his singlemindedness to carry on through the decades with Saxon and then when it was announced he was going to release solo album eyebrows were raise. you know what it is something different from the singer and opening his heart like this is great stuff it’s not what was expected and using the saxophone worked for me and this should be celebrated as a triumph. Good on you Mr. Byford you are a true legend and long may you continue to perform and make music – RPM Salutes you. to get your copy visit www.biffbyford.com
The Empty Hearts – Remember Days Like These (Wicked Cool Records) You want power pop from a supergroup? Hell, we all do. the Empty Hearts dish up a delicious helping of Rickenbacker backbeat power pop with the emphasis on the pop. With lush backing vocals and daydreams of laying on cut grass staring up at the clouds in a deep blue sky Hell they’ve even managed to rope in Ringo Star on the drums for the lead track and Clem Burke sits it out. Truly a supergroup. Elliot Easton – guitar, backing vocals Wally Palmar – lead vocals, guitar, Clem Burke – drums, backing vocals, percussion and Andy Babiuk – bass, backing vocals. The B side or is that AA side ‘Tell Me Reasons Why’ is my pick of the two tracks on offer and is the sound of some guys loving what they’re playing and delivering the good. For lovers of Rickenbacker power pop garage. Bandcamp
Johnny Jetson – ‘Love Me For My Car’ (Minnie Apple Records) Two tracks taken from his brand new soon to be released album ‘Make Your Move’ Jetson plays in yer face Rock and Roll. He’s stewed it in a vat of influences including the good and the greats. Bolan and T Rex are in the DNA for sure as the tune gyrates and does a virtual lapdance all through your ears and that’s a great feeling. Fuzzy guitars and tambourine and shakers behind a tried and tested riff that’s where this bad boy is hanging and we’re down with that for sure. ‘Knocked Out’ is an altogether nastier, sleazy slab of rock n roll. Mashing up some Pistols with the Coop as it rushes to finish before the cops turn up and throw this track in the clink. A welcome return for Mr. Jetson its been a while. We missed your confident strut and your fistful of rock n roll tunes. Keep em coming we like it! Facebook
Slumlord Radio – ‘Gonna Be A Riot’ (White Elephant records) Dirty hard-rocking mofos with a cowbell. What’s not to like? With one foot on the wedge owned by the likes of Warrior Soul with a dash of The Forr Horsemen thrown in fo rgood measure this Michigan born beat combo is dishing up a shitstorm of hard-rockin’ tunes with plenty of attitude and for extra bonus points, who doesn’t love a band who kick out the jams on ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’. they treat it with due care and attention and don’t fuck it up but give it plenty of menacing roffola which is cool and add in that beautiful 1 finger piano riff – check it out. Pick it up Here
Lucy And The Rats – ‘Dark Clouds’/’Get Down’ (Stardumb Records, Dirty Water Records) Taken from their second album this new single is Lucy raining down some wonderful power pop on us. With lush melodies on the chorus its atop glimpse into what we can expect from the new album (hopefully), it is rounded off with a thoroughly splendid guitar break. If only all power-pop singles were this good, the charts would be in much better shape if Lucy was in the top 10 and when you got in your car for the ride to work this happened to be blaring on the radio. Until that happens go visit the band on their Facebook page and check em out – you won’t be disappointed Facebook
Eddie Money & The Grave – The Lost 79 tapes (Still Unbeatable Records)The Lost 1979 Manchester Studio Recordings + new bonus track! Recently discovered in the USA and sent over to the UK! Remastered from the original tapes! Original 1979 Power Pop Punk! Available on 7” vinyl 45rpm with a limited run on coloured vinyl you have to check this out just for the lyrics. Absolute class and of its time. It’s one for fans of The Boys and classic power-pop-punk rock. Its got that analogue crackle for good measure to give all the audiophiles a warm tingle when playing this one. Buy Here
Cockroach Clan – A New England (Fysisk Format) A song that’s been covered a couple of times and some gets the Cockroach Clan treatment. It did test my gag reflex watching the video with Farage and Widdicombe flashing up on the screen waving their butchers aprons but hey ho it takes all sorts I guess. It’s a decent stab at a great tune but sadly not as good as the original or the Kirsty McCall version but its worth a listen and stick with the video even after the intro the outro is worth the wait. Nice one guys!
Go Mod Go! – ‘Duke’s Jetty’ (Fandango Records, Ghost Highway Recordings, KOTJ Records) Go Mod Go! Whats not to like here. It’s something totally different and harks back to the swinging 60s for sure. A project consisting of Jake Starr (Adam West, Jake Starr and The Delicious Fullness) and Tom Barrick (Adam West) featuring a 10-piece powerhouse band with horns, keyboards, and a dynamic woman vocalist.
After the band recorded their debut album “Alright!”, they went into the studio to record a few new songs with original vocalist Jamie Boyd. Jamie soon left the band and was replaced by superstar vocalist Mundy, and the band started recording their upcoming second album.
These two songs are the final recordings with Jamie and showcase the 60s garage side (“Duke’s Jetty”) and the sultry French Yé-Yé side (“Zou Bisou Bisou”). Oh, la la tre bien Mr. Starr this is something left of centre and why not? Released on a limited edition 7″ of 200 on bubblegum pink vinyl, this is the perfect bridge between Go Mod Go! albums. Kiss kiss! Bandcamp
The Scaners follows-up on their 2019 LP (Dirty Water Records/Adrenalin Fix Music) with a new 7″ featuring a little nugget off the long-player called “X-Ray Glasses: On.” An exact release date is yet to be announced but it is expected out in December via a consortium of labels including Adrenalin Fix Music, Dangerhouse Skylab, Spaghetty Town Records, and Ghost Highway Recordings. Below, you can watch the band’s video for “X Ray Glasses: On” directed by Hugo “Frogy” Reymond.
AIRBOURNE have unleashed an official music video for their current single, ‘Backseat Boogie’; shot at their sold-out Copenhagen show at Amager Bio just last month, this latest clip captures fans rocking out to new songs from the recently released studio album, ‘Boneshaker’, for the very first time.
The Swedish sextet Hellsingland Underground released their fifth full length studio album, called “A Hundred Years Is Nothing”, on August 30. The sound on this album is a big step forward for the band, both sound- and songwriting wise. You can still sense their early day folk and blues influences, but you’ll also hear echoes of Pink Floyd, Queen and The Doors. Mini-moogs, mellotron and accoustic guitars has been added into a perfect mix of great personal lyrics, and some of the finest songwriting to ever come from a Swedish rock band. “A Hundred Years Is Nothing” is their strongest album to date, no doubt
Everybody loves a compilation album, don’t they? Even if its a taster that’ll put you on notice to never buy a Ted Nugent record ever after hearing Axe Attack as a kid.
When you hear some band from a far off land pre-internet and then have to go on a ten-year hunt to find that record that was only released in Australia we’ve all been there haven’t we? Well in 2019 and with all the playlists under the sun I find myself getting quite excited with the release of a couple of compilation albums and The Last Testament is one of those records that has some bands I’m familiar with and some I’m not which has me intrigued and rather like my ten-year-old self quite excited at the prospect of maybe discovering my new favourite band.
I did chuckle to myself when I read the press sheet and it asked the questions are you fed up of wimpy kids with effects pedals? Uh, Yes! Do you like hard drugs and cannibalism? Um, not really but I’m listening. and then do you want to punch a cop in the face? Fuckin’ Hell yeah! How about six bands two songs each spread out over roughly twenty-five minute? Not going to tax even the most easily distracted hipster. If I were to inform you that the six bands were Black Mambas, the Cavemen, The Scaners, The Fadeaways, Les Lullies and Nave Nodriza. Now you’re interested!
Those Black Mambas are ‘Up All Night’ shaking their shit like its the last night on earth and they’re the house band. Catchy and punchy as fuck Man I love Black Mambas. The Cavemen play fast live faster and get to the end of the tune fastest. Its garage punk it’s lightning fast and it’s a fuckin’ banger if you know the band you know what to expect its a chaotic one and a half minutes that’s barely hanging on to reality let alone any sanity ‘My Baby Knows’ is a killer! the Scaners start off like a cold vintage car before igniting the jet engine and away we go.
The Fadeaways do slow it down on ‘I’m Useless’ with a groovy slice of garage rock n roll before Les Lullies turn the amps right up and slam out some rapid rock and roll like a cross between Sonny Vincent and Chuck Berry there are some awesome guitar licks in there and one of the best tracks on offer on this collection. I’ve been blown away by Les Lullies and what I’ve heard so far. Side one is closed with Nava Nodriza with ‘Destruyete’ that’s like Captin sensible joined Motorhead and just Destroyed it. That’s side one shut down then now to flip it and see what’s cooking on the dark side.
Well, more of the same from the same bands (no surprise there then) What you do get is another six excellent tunes. If I were to pick a winner it might go to Black Mambas for their Cramps meets Quo meets Stray Cats amped up rock n roll ‘Baby I’ll Give It To You’ which is just superb. Dirty Water has released some fantastic records over the years and introduced some awesome bands that have lightened up a special corner of my life and no doubt countless others. Compilation albums like this can only be a good thing no make that a great thing. Check it out then check out the individual bands and we’re all winners. Brilliant – loud – wild rock and roll just how I like it!
The Ramones, The Dickies, The Briefs, Tubeway Army, Parker From Thunderbirds all spring to mind if your wanting reference points to describe the sound of Lyons The Scaners. IT’s upbeat rapid punchy in your face hooks galore with guitars, bass, drums and synths. That’s pretty much it in a nutshell like being punched in the gob by some wackos with dayglo shades and a shit-eating grin across their faces.
‘Random City’ sounds like Tubeway Army playing The Ramones and absolutely nailing it. You should know how this plays out, its a dozen songs lasting about two minutes each all packed with melodies and gang choruses and sandpaper raw guitars buzzing around a rock-steady punchy beat with accented synth stabs here there everywhere! There are exceptions to the rule mind. No, I’m not suggesting there is a country and western track tucked away and neither is there a heavy metal track about dragons and fire but ‘Space X-Ploration’ clocks in at a prog bustin’ four minutes. Four fuckin minutes mind, wow. Most of that the intro to be fair which sounds like thunderbirds are blasting off and the video will be yoghurt pots and fishing wire with a paper mache moon you can imagine the drill now. The body of the song is a banger to be fair. I love the song and the instruments just work perfectly.
‘Galactic Race’ carries on a theme with a fantastic Diggle like guitar slash that is like Buzzcocks playing Devo right in the ‘Why Can’t I Touch It’ pocket if that song were on speed. ‘X-Ray Glasses’ is a much gentler tune well, when I say gentle – it’s slower and purposeful with a great bass guitar throb. ‘Spin Like A Record’ is like The Briefs just straight ahead punk rock goodness. Imagine The Ramones if Johnny wore a keytar, not a Mosrite well that’s ‘Don’t Run We’re Your Friends’ or at least in the same ballpark.
Over the course of these twelve songs, fans already on board will be delighted with what they hear.as The Scaners kill it throughout with a most excellent bunch of tunes and if you’re looking for some top-notch punk with a twist then you might just have found your new favourite snotty punks.
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