Should you have come across the music of The Reverse Cowgirls, you would have been forgiven for assuming their origins were the Southern States of the US instead of the environs of the Dear Green Place.
I am shamefully late to the game when it comes to The Reverse Cowgirls, having recently seen them supporting Reaction in McChuills and being blown away by their set. I have always been aware of the name and been in attendance, in body at least, at a gig where they played before but the less said about how I ended that evening the better. How does that old cliché go – better late than never.
Bag O’ Bones
Their latest CD, Bag O’ Bones arrived at Chez Quiff some time ago now and has been a constant companion in journeys in my clapped-out motor, only recently being usurped on occasion by The Bikini Bottoms, but that is another post…
The nine tracks on offer on the CD could be described as all killer, no filler as the band set out their deep south bluesy garage rock agenda with aplomb.
The tribal drums of Lost Tribes kick off the album with intent, from then on in there is no let up. Sonorous garage guitars and solid thunderous bass add to the atmosphere created by the hypnotic drumming, Hugh’s gruff characterful voice fuse perfectly with the music to create a wondrously cataclysmic noise.
Trashy Blues
Onto White Lady and the tremulous vocal intro breaks to reveal a thumping driving beast of a tune. Trashy blues abound in the frantic rush of Hot Dinners, before Tombstone comes along and brings its addictive refrain to the party.
The accelerator pedal is well and truly to the floor for This Mean War, while there is a distinct sixties feel to Land That Time Forgot. Primeval yelps and screams abound throughout the record, though when it reaches the penultimate title track, the tone changes with a slightly more acoustic feel and a different tone from Hugh’s more delicate vocal.
The album ends with Ride Into the Sun, a huge cinematic soundscape, the mainly instrumental track opens with the refrain fading in before becoming a huge bombastic behemoth of a track as the band plunge headlong into the sun.
Magnificent.
Get the album now at their bandcamp site