Thrum - Elettrorama

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 30 / 6 / 2011

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Review

‘Elettrorama’ is Thrum’s first album since their 1994 debut, ‘Rifferama’. It opens with ‘The Exciter’, which is 5m 18 seconds of pure Americana brilliance that just happens to come from Glasgow. It starts with loud drums and a killer bass line, before fine guitar joins in. Monica Queen's sweet vocal has a southern charm to it, and is calming and self-confessional. This is full on rock ‘n' roll that really kicks in at the half way mark and recalls Crazy Horse at their best. ‘Slower’ sounds like a fast Teenage Fanclub, Monica's vocal keeping up the pace. ‘Johnny’ is a gritty song of big riffs and big drums. The vocal is full of life and confidence. ‘Precious’ is much more confessional. The guitars sound like a slow Nirvana, while Monica here sounds like Miss Love in her vocal delivery. ‘High Wire’ has a more traditional Thrum sound, sounding like a female fronted Crazy Horse which is fine by me. ‘ Alpha 1’ is a fiery head banging Americana beast of a number, while ‘Dark Heart’ sounds like a fast Icicle Works doing Neil Young. ‘Summer Sail’ is another explosive Crazy Horse number, while ‘Oil My Feet, is much slower and acoustic-based, a Sunday chiller of a track. ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ is a cover of the old Ike and Tina Turner number which is done justice. ‘Banish the Devil’ ends the album and, at over ten minutes long, is a slow burner full of charm, a song to rock your heart too on this perfect return to form.

Track Listing:-

1 The Exciter
2 Slower
3 Johnny What's the Use
4 Precious
5 High Wire
6 Alpha 1
7 Dark Heart
8 Summer Sail
9 Oil My Feet
10 River Deep
11 Banish the Devil