The Rotations have been plying their down and downright dirty rock blues for a few years now and this album collects most of their best so far, and the rest….
Over a total of 16 tracks they pummel us into submission with an onslaught of heavy geetar riffs, dark words and syncopated drum and bass… and not forgetting some great keys as well…
Highlights are probably previously released singles such as ‘Work Is A Four Letter Word’ but there are many other great tracks here.
‘Over and Over’ is a more upbeat tune, with a great summery guitar riff while ‘Don’t Smoke in Bed’ channels The Cramps to good effect…
‘Resistance is Futile’ ups the groove quotient to give a higher bpm, perhaps a wee bit of Alabama Three there – wonderful…
‘Cookie Jar’ is quite scary while ‘What Will Be’ is a wigout of immense proportions…
This album, contrary to the title, is all killer no filler – from beginning to end…
There are some lower key tracks, like ‘Schadenfreude’, but the album is all the better for it… quite spacey and spare, and some nice female vocals as well.
The last few tracks do not disappoint either – ‘Hiroshima’ is a belter, a bit Fall-esque at times, and there is no higher praise…! ‘Avert Your Eyes’ brings out the big riffs again for a synapse-shredding series of darkening verses, with some great instrumental work as well.
‘Brainless’ is slower and a bit dubby actually, then we are back to ’50s-referencing rawk, the riffs are relentless…
‘I Went Over To Dover’ is the longest track on the record and an unrelenting squall of guitar and keyboards….is it all instrumental? No, the vocals kick in after a while and BM is reminded a bit of Fat White Family, another good influence, and how about The Amazing Snakeheads, RIP…
Last track ‘Rebound’ is another sparser and groovy number, with fuzz guitar and other effects as well as the usual crepescular vocals…
The compilation shows the breadth and span of what The Rotations have do, and have done – more power to their elbows…