Scottish garage-rock freaks of a certain vintage may recall an early ‘80s Edinburgh band called The Green Telescope, who eventually morphed into The Thanes.
Along with Glasgow’s The Primevals and Aberdeen’s The Shamen (originally an intense garage-psych outfit), The Thanes went on to inspire other ‘60s-fixated Scottish garage bands, such as Dundee’s ultra-primitive The Creeping Terror.
Singer/guitarist Lenny Helsing, a well-known figure in the Scottish garage-rock scene and also a long-standing contributor to Shindig! Magazine, continues to front the group, four decades on, and organist Angus McPake is the other remaining member from the group’s early days.
This scorching four-track EP, released in advance of a promised full album of new material, is proof that the passing of time hasn’t dimmed the group’s enthusiasm. Any preconceived notions that The Thanes may be stuck in the past are quickly dispelled by the sheer vitality of this 7” slab of blazing rock & roll.
Recorded on analogue reel-to-reel tape at organist/guitarist Angus McPake’s Ravenscraig studio, the two originals and two covers that comprise this EP sizzle with the energised live feel of early Sonics and Pretty Things recordings, driven by the swinging rhythm section of Gordon Brady (drums) and Colin Morris (bass).
The two originals, ‘For What Reward?’ and ‘Heed The Warning’ are just as strong as the covers, ‘You’ll Never Do It, Baby’, which featured on The Pretty Things’ classic album ‘Get The Picture?’, and ‘It’s Dark’ by Australian group The Twilights.
There’s an art to capturing the essence of a great rock & roll group in the studio, and The Thanes have it down pat. The quality of this ebullient EP bodes well for the forthcoming long-player.
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