Raunch-n-roll-abilly outfit Labretta Suede & the Motel 6 left Auckland to relocate to New York city (sans two-thirds of the Motel 6) – replenishing their rhythm section with US citizens of suitably dubious nature, judging by their photos. And they now have a brand new album, glitzier and glammer than ever. It’s like their swagger got swagged, or something.
Opening with a high-pitched scream in direct inverse proportion to the gnarly bass-line offered by Mr Max Speed $1000 (probably not his real name) – the title track acts as a hypothesis which they spend the next ten tracks attempting to prove/dis-prove/im-prove. “My boyfriend think’s he’s Gary Glitter” is perhaps an unfortunate inspiration for a song, given the stars convicted interest in children – but it turns out that it’s more about liking “punk-rock but glam was better” and the time spent by the aforementioned boyfriend applying his make-up. So that’s okay, then.
Moments like Moondog’s taunting of Labretta on Mean Mouthed Mutha, the sexy keyboard line on Thickened Sludge or the guitar riff matched by Labretta’s growls on Itty Bit propel them well and truly into Cramps territory.
Itty Bit, while we’re discussing it, as well as High Heeled Heartbreaker are simply slices of rawk-n-rawl wonder-good-times – it’s dangerous and sexy and, just a little bit frightening. Beach Party Town is exactly what it says it is. Fun-tastic and ghoul-tastic. It’s zombies in bikinis muthafucker.
Beats are primal-a-plenty; shakes are ‘tastic; howls are holler-fying; it is more than evident that New York has, it seems, let these cats find their true fur and purr. - review by Andrew Tidball
7.2 / 10
Labretta Suede will be in NZ touring to promote this album in February – read about it here
