By Jim Rowland
Thee Headcoats and Thee Headcoatees always made a good couple, and this week sees a good couple of new albums, one from each, released consecutively by Damaged Goods Records in the shape of ‘The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular’ and ‘Man-Trap’.
Led by the prolific Billy Childish, Medway punk ’n’ roll legends Thee Headcoats returned to the scene two years ago after a 23- year hiatus with the acclaimed ‘Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)’ album. ‘The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular’ sees them pick up where that album left off with another onslaught of Thee Headcoats’ inimitable brand of punk-infused, 60s-inspired garage rock and R’n’B.
The album contains 12 rockin’ barnstormers, all killer, ranging from the wild, harsh and raw punk’n’roll of ‘And The Band Played Johnny B. Goode’ and ‘100 Yards of Crash Barrier’ to the authentic, urgent and riff-tastic pure ’60s garage rock of ‘Dearest Darling’, ‘The Devil & God Entwined’ and ‘The Baby Who Mutilated Everybody’s Heart’.
‘A Common Disease’ and ‘Modern Terms of Abuse’ have a darker, almost Cramps-esque edge, ‘Got Love If You Want It’ is a quality harmonica-led rockin’ blues workout, whilst ‘The Friends of the Buff Medway Fanciers Association’ displays a great sense of quaint English humour. It all adds up to a band still at the top of their game, and easily matching up to their triumphs of the past.
‘The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular’ was in the can and ready to go late last year, but the brainwave of holding it back until a ‘companion’ album from Thee Headcoatees could be wrapped up too looks to be a good move. Like Thee Headcoats a couple of years ago, The Headcoatees return from a long hiatus for their first album this century with ‘Man-Trap’.
Utilizing Thee Headcoats as the backing band, and Billy Childish as producer, the ‘Sisters of Suave’ have come up with an album, as with Thee Headcoats, that matches high points of the past and displays similar raw and authentic qualities.
The album is a mixture of quality cover versions, including Ramones’ ‘The KKK Took My Baby Away’ and ‘He’s Gonna Kill That Girl’ and a storming version of the Stones’ ‘Paint It, Black’, with some choice new originals.
The likes of ‘Man-Trap’, ‘Walking On My Grave’, ‘I Can’t Find Pleasure’ and ‘The Money Will Roll Right It’ are full-throttle wild, authentic garage rockers, mixing it up with the dramatic 60s pop balladry of ‘Sex & Flies’ and ‘Becoming Unbecoming Me’, plus Thee Headcoatees’ own take on the aforementioned ‘Modern Terms Of Abuse’, a song appearing on both albums.
Every bit as enjoyable, raw, wild and authentic as Thee Headcoats album, ‘Man-Trap’ is a triumphant return for Thee Headcoatees. It’s a clever move to release the two together, as they complement each other perfectly. If this type of raw, punk-infused, 60’s-styled garage rock is your bag, investing in both albums together is highly recommended.
- ‘The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular’ and ‘Man-Trap’ are both released today (Friday 14 November).