By Jim Rowland
The legendary Ruts DC complete the trilogy of their ‘ELECTRAcoustic’ series with volume three, released via Sosumi Recordings this week, once again deep diving into the vast musical pool that encompasses both Ruts DC and The Ruts.
As with the first two in this series, ‘ELECTRAcoustic Volume 3’ takes the stripped back, more laid back, live in the studio approach using acoustic and electric instruments giving new treatments to Ruts and Ruts DC classics old, relatively new and in one case, brand new. The brand new comes in the shape of ‘Bound In Blood’, a brand new song for the first time in this series. Originally intended to be worked up into a full band production, the decision was made that it would work well in this format, and indeed it’s a hugely impressive new song that sits very nicely here.
Elsewhere, the early Ruts material is well represented, making up nearly half the album, with ‘Dope For Guns’, ‘Secret Soldiers’, ‘Human Punk’, ‘Criminal Minds’, ‘Society’ and a stonking ‘Jah War’ all featuring, shedding new light on the songs, but of course with the message behind the songs remaining the same. The same can be said for ‘Vox Teardrop’, ‘Tears On Fire’, ‘Too Much’ and ’Pretty Lunatics’ representing the more recent material from the (both excellent) ‘Counterculture?’ and ‘Music Must Destroy’ albums.
‘ELECTRAcoustic Volume 3’ is a worthy finale to this series of albums for Ruts DC, if indeed this is the last instalment of this very worthwhile project. As I’ve said with the previous volumes, no matter how you present it, and great song is a great song, and when it comes to The Ruts and Ruts DC, they were, and remain, in plentiful supply.
- ‘ELECTRAcoustic Volume 3’ is released on Friday (5 July).
- Ruts DC hit the road this month:
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