“Shimmy” - Biff Bang Pow Records
The latest in the series of compilations from Biff Bang Pow continues the pursuit of quality. “Shimmy” follows the success of “Shake” and “Shout” with a focussed selection of some of the best new modernist and beat music on the current scene.
sharp chords
There is a wide range of tunes here - twenty of them to be exact. From the first, sharp chords of the opener- Mark Josephs's full on new song “Get Back Sally” - you know you're onto a winner. There are plenty of modern day favourites in the selection - The Jenerators‘ in your face “Shake Some Action”, The Lost 45s' classic comedown comment on the weekend “Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday” - “feeling like you've just got run over“ - and The Freebooting Profiteer's infectious guitar-driven “Supercool Supercruel”. Not forgetting Yeh Yeh's brilliance on “What The Papers Say” and The Bresslaws' “Backfist Baby”. And some take you right back. The immortal voice of Ms Fay Hallam has been raved about on the release of her latest long player and The Fay Hallam Trinity's “Stand Up” is one of the standouts of that album. Small World's tuneful “There's A Place” and Long Tall Shorty's bluesy, classic R&B “Night And Day” are both spot on. Then there are the immensely groovable “Out Of The Blue” by the Soul City Experience and “Back In The Chicken Shack” by Getaway.
some impressive vocals
Not to mention “L'Essence Des Sens” by Curlee Wurlee. And the strong Hammond feel of RT4‘s “Before The Night”, the straight ahead “She's Arrived” by The Impact Four, the very strong “Whenever Wherever Whatever” by Mojo and the infectious “Just Add Some Colour” by Immediate. Darren J Connett's strong soulful vocals are immediately evident on “Keep Your Soul Clean”. Then there's the psychedelic pop of “Brown House In Stepney” by Green Circles and the beautiful, wistful “Saturday In Soho” by The Flying Squad - “watching through neon lights, Soho streets are never quiet”. Absolutely. But if there's one tune here that really grabs me its Adrian Holder's “Goodbye Tuesday”. A strong rhythm guitar, some impressive vocals and poignant lyrics. I love it. Some tunes make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up. This is packed with them. In short, its possibly the best modernist compilation of the naughties. Along with “Shake” and “Shout” that is. Rob Massey