ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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Taurus Trakker
BUILDING TEN GEMLIKE RECORDS 28.5.12 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
The press gumph trumpets that this album features The Clash’s Mick Jones – and indeed it does although this is slightly misleading as he only provides additional guitar on one track. He’s got other connections to the band though having produced their 2007 debut album – he’s also singer Martin Muscatt’s cousin. They’re heavily related to The Clash – and not just via family connections, with a punky, trashy feel permeating the album. The band storm through riotous first track ‘Lucky’ with great abandon before squawking sax (from Dave Wright of X-Ray Spex) opens ’21 Miles To a Water Pump’. They have that worldly-wise approach to pulling in a multitude of influences from a myriad of cultures similar to The Clash. I’m suddenly conscious of the fact that I’ve mentioned The Clash three times already in the first three paragraphs of this review (and there’s number four.) But I’m also starting to realise that Muscatt has a similar vocal affectation to Dan Treacy of the dearly beloved Television Personalities. ‘Bag For Life’ sees the band rocking out to the max, and Jones then makes his solitary appearance on the excellent title track, while ‘Push and Pull’ is a great, scuzzy pop-punk stonker. We close with the grunting, dirty riffs of ‘Temporary’ a song which also showcases the other half of this duo’s talents - drummer Allison Phillips’ (after previously cutting her teeth with Alternative TV and The Raincoats) breakneck style ensure the album signs off on a high. If you like raw, punk rock done with a lot of energy, heart and a fair amount of musicianship then this album could be the best thing you’ve heard in years. www.taurustrakker.co.uk |
