There are dozens of independent record labels that are a cause for celebration. The one’s that, when you hear they have a new release coming, it is almost guaranteed you will love it. I’m not going to start listing those. Suffice to say that Tarbeach Records based in New York but with roots still attached to the heart of the West of Scotland is one that holds a special place in my music collection. I own all the releases to date. So far there is not one I don’t like. So, it gives me great pleasure to be reviewing the first of three tree-mendous releases (the pun is intentional) coming your way now. Coming shortly is Dreaming from the magnificent New York Junk and Treefort, an album from Ty Murray.
The first of those releases is from Reaction, a band whose late ‘70’s punk roots are firmly Airdrie based, Airdrie also being the basis of the Scottish link for Tarbeach. The La Chunky Sessions EP follows up the quite wonderful Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired album from 2018, and plays like a history of punk/alternative rock.
Illuminate
The links with the style of music from both of the bands albums is very much present. Lead track the rather wonderful earworm that is Illuminate, comes with a rather natty video. When I first heard Saints of Tamla Hill on the Keep it Weird album, Sonic Youth was the band that came to mind. Illuminate comes from the same stable, but this time Joe is channelling J Mascis and co, the guitars very much reflecting the great Dinosaur Jr, complete with majestic soaring guitar break two-thirds of the way through. Altogether now “Anytime, anytime…” Yes, the addictive refrain will be lodged firmly in your brain forever.
Stay Pretty
This high-octane track kicks into life with some maximum velocity Eddie Cochrane styling much loved and copied/sampled by many over the years – Steve Jones & Sigue Sigue Sputnik to name a couple. This leads into a riff not dissimilar to Arctic Monkeys Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Stay Pretty, does just that throughout, maintaining its energy and hitting you like a cyclone. Listening closely to the lyrics, it becomes apparent this is a very personal song for the band’s vocalist.
Kamikaze Baby
Kamikaze Baby follows on wearing its punk influences on its sleeve too, this time though its much more of a NYC vibe, complete with hand claps and backing woo’s, this song along with the bands background making this the perfect release For Tarbeach. The lyrics for this one are littered with clever little punk/post punk references.
Strychnine
The melody for Strychnine has a darker post punk edge to it, with a Banshees element coming through at times. The song is dealt with in a sinisterly humorous manner by Carson, “Some people like water, some people like wine, but I like the taste of straight strychnine…”. The manic yelping and primal screams scattered through the song from main man Carson, bring to mind the late great Lux Interior.
Four quality tracks that will have you coming back time and again. Reaction always put on a great live show. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait forever to see them again. Illuminate me anytime…
Get over to Tarbeach and order yours now.
Luv it!!