Latest CD releases reviewed

HEAVY TRASH
Heavy Trash Yep Roc
****

There always has been something cartoonish about rockabilly. It's all those exaggerated effects, the wild-eyed vocals, the big, dirty, twanging guitars with so much echo you could swim in it and the themes of remorseless abuse, give or take the odd innocent love affair. Done well, the above is a recipe for colourful craic of the highest order. Thankfully, Jon Spencer (he of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) and his buddy, Matt Verta-Ray of Speedball Baby, plus assorted friends, have conjured up an album that reminds us most of all that music should be fun. I'm sure there are serious moments, but I can't for the life of me lay my ears on any. All 13 tracks, rippling with Link Wray and Chuck Berry licks, sound, plus or minus, as if the perpetrators are wearing a sly grin or winking madly. Check out the bad boy anthem The Loveless or the watertight drama of Under the Waves for evidence.

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Joe Breen

CHATHAM COUNTY LINE
Route 23 Yep Roc
***

Yankee bluegrass merchants are a rare enough thing, but this four-piece from Raleigh, North Carolina, are refugees from rock 'n' roll who have not quite purged themselves of that aberrant strain. And thank God for that, too. This is their second collection and it is produced by that maverick, Chris Stamey, whose own solo album was much liked in this parish. They are a determinedly acoustic band, Greg Readling's double bass the anchor around which multi-instrumentalist John Teer, banjo picker Chandler Holt and the band's main songwriter and guitarist Dave Wilson let it rip. CCL can whip up an instrumental storm but are just as comfortable slowing it down, letting the harmonies squeeze the last drop of emotion from a song. Stamey keeps it rough and live, but every note is clear - as is every voice. Listen to the hard gospel of Take Heed or the wonderful story song, Louisiana Freight Train, with its sublime harmonies. www.chathamcountyline.com

Joe Breen