Pittsburgh trio Modey Lemon release their new album, their first for Mute, entitled 'Thunder + Lightning' on May 17th. Opening with the magnificent 'crows'
see review, this album rocks and rolls with hardly any faltering. You sense urgency was the need and pace was the drug that got this album made. Spewing their guts out into the next tracks 'thunder + lightning' and 'predator', there is sheer delight in feeling and hearing the bands inner turmoil.
Production is a sleazy and dirty style, very un-American, usually so pristine and clear. Plenty of fuzz bass, moog and guitar (Phil Boyd and Jason Kirker) with some quite mad drumming (Paul Quattrone) like Danny Goffey of Supergrass fame at his most manic and with drum fills in all the unlikely places as 'Mooney' would do. It's the muppets drummer in human form, just listen to 'enemy' and tell me I'm wrong. It has to be said, I have no idea what singer Phil Boyd is on about but you know something is wrong with someone or the world or him.
'Enemy' is a gem as is 'poisonous ink clouds' sounding like 'The Doors' gone grunge. 'The other direction' and 'electronic sorcerer' are rather too awkward and loose, even tame but 'tongues (everybody's got one)' with it's madcap rock boogie shuffle is stirling stuff: The last 3 tracks all delve into the darkness and mayhem such that it feels like your in a deep well, just out of reach of Hannibal Lecter peering over the edge.
'Black Flamingos' as does 'predator' visits early Black Sabbath, the former reminding me of the track 'black sabbath', the latter of 'war pigs' and indeed that Iommi guitar growl is a sure influence but the whole album has more of an early Motorhead feel with some punklike drumming. Hey that's just an idea; this Pittsburgh trio have pushed some boundaries and as a 'live' act promise a wonderful experience.
ModeyLemon will have the squeeze on your pulse and the promise of 'thunder and lightning' is for real.
