An alumnus of the Pussy Galore alma mater Kurt Wolf is no stranger to intertwining invasive knotweed-like guitar with copper bottomed beats. While in the 80s PG sampled 2Live Crew and imbibed the spirit of the Bomb Squad, Wolf has bought this plus an Acme fuzzbox of treats via Brooklyn to the Barrios of Brazil where Marco Butcher of Jesus and the Groupies infamy has made it all feel right now!
“Black Bruises” is an album where two garage rock doyens - the indefatigable Wolf and given his recent travails the seemingly indestructible “Uncle” Butcher meet in the middle and if the music coming from “Down The Hall” is anything to go by together - they’re dynamite! It’s the most incendiary punk / blues match up since Jon Spencer and RL Burnside. Butcher’s got form for compelling collabo’s having recently worked with the likes of Jerry Teel, Texacala Jones, Walter Daniels, Harry Stafford (on whose label this record lands) and Wolf’s old team mate Julia Cafritz but this one eclipses them all.
The title tune is so hot under the collar, and insistently low-slung that the sweat is positively dripping up the walls, while the juju vibes of “Orange County Death Trails” mean that Kid Congo’s got company in the crypt.
The frankly trashcan hip hop beats of killer double bill “In The House” and “Two Feet High” feel like the devil is the DJ, while the Dr John genuflexion of “You’ll Be Mine” truly feels like a Bayou tapestry of Mississippi soaked swamp rock.
Butcher gives the deep larynx-ed vocal performance of a lifetime, while channelling the spirit of Duane Eddy from the recently visited other side. Meanwhile Wolf brings the angry swing.
Once upon a time he may have angrily hurled his Telecaster against the corrugated metal of the studio booth while recording “Dial M For Motherfucker” but this timeit’s flying straight towards your head so you’d best take cover.
“Black Bruises” is an album where two garage rock doyens - the indefatigable Wolf and given his recent travails the seemingly indestructible “Uncle” Butcher meet in the middle and if the music coming from “Down The Hall” is anything to go by together - they’re dynamite! It’s the most incendiary punk / blues match up since Jon Spencer and RL Burnside. Butcher’s got form for compelling collabo’s having recently worked with the likes of Jerry Teel, Texacala Jones, Walter Daniels, Harry Stafford (on whose label this record lands) and Wolf’s old team mate Julia Cafritz but this one eclipses them all.
The title tune is so hot under the collar, and insistently low-slung that the sweat is positively dripping up the walls, while the juju vibes of “Orange County Death Trails” mean that Kid Congo’s got company in the crypt.
The frankly trashcan hip hop beats of killer double bill “In The House” and “Two Feet High” feel like the devil is the DJ, while the Dr John genuflexion of “You’ll Be Mine” truly feels like a Bayou tapestry of Mississippi soaked swamp rock.
Butcher gives the deep larynx-ed vocal performance of a lifetime, while channelling the spirit of Duane Eddy from the recently visited other side. Meanwhile Wolf brings the angry swing.
Once upon a time he may have angrily hurled his Telecaster against the corrugated metal of the studio booth while recording “Dial M For Motherfucker” but this timeit’s flying straight towards your head so you’d best take cover.
TRACK LISTING
1. DOWN THE HALL 04:12
2. BLACK BRUISES 03:32
3. RADIO INTIMACY 03:57
4. IN THE HOUSE 03:27
5. TWO FEET HIGH 03:18
6. YOU'LL BE MINE 03:17
7. ORANGE COUNTY DEATH TRAILS 03:44
8. COFFEE AND CREAM 04:24
9. FEAR PROVIDERS 02:57
10. IT'S ALL THE SAME 05:12