Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 17 / 3 / 2006
Label:
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Format: CD
intro
Debut album from London garage rock band the Archie Bronson Outfit, who were signed to Domino by label boss Laurence Bell after he spotted them playing in his local pub
Laurence Bell had a reputation for being a smart spotter of talent long before his label started having number one hits. It was he who gave the British public records from Pavement, Sebadoh, Smog and Bonnie Prince Billy, not to mention the exceptional Four Tet. With that record, few begrudge him his double whammy of Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys. But do his talents extend far enough for him to sign a band that he spotted in the local pub? It seems so. The Archie Bronson Outfit have become a well respected garage rock outfit. Unlike many of the bands that got signed as a response to the White Stripes, the Archie Bronson Outfit seem to have a bit of restraint, and that means they are able to concentrate on groove where others seemed to just want to rattle through their songs as fast as possible. So even if you vowed never to buy a garage rock album again after hearing the Paddingtons, you shouldn’t be offended by ‘Derdang, Derdang’. There is nothing wrong with bands that are in thrall to the music of the past. After all, most of us listeners are too. That is especially true in the case of a band like this, where the music seems always like a passion and never a meal ticket. The Archie Bronson Outfit clearly have good taste, and they have refined their music with the air of craftsmen. But are the songs memorable or enjoyable enough to make you want to play them over and over again? The brutal answer to that question is, no. Though never actually bad, neither the song writing or the musicianship on display is really anything more than reasonable, with the exception of a couple of tracks.
Track Listing:-
1 Cherry Lips2 Kink
3 Dart For My Sweetheart
4 Got To Get (Your Eyes)
5 Dead Funny
6 Modern Lovers
7 Cuckoo
8 Jab Jab
9 How I Sang Dang
10 Rituals
11 Harp For My Sweetheart
live reviews |
|
ICA, London, 11/10/2006 |
|
| On the second night of a two night stand, Jon Rogers watches garage rock trio the Archie Bronson Outfit and Domono-label signing play a fast and furious, and absolutely stunning set at the London ICA |
reviews |
|
Coconut (2010) |
|
| Accomplished third album from London band the Archie Bronson Outfit which finds them moving away from their garage rock roots and in a more experimental direction |
| Shark's Tooth (2010) |
| Dart for My Sweetheart (2007) |
| Cherry Lips (2006) |
| Dead Funny (2006) |
| Dart For My Sweetheart (2006) |
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