Automatic Sam – Sonic Whip

Automatic Sam – Sonic Whip

Quadrofoon – 2013

Rock, Garage, Psychedelic, Alternative, Stoner

Rated: *****

Our hearts were burning with fear and despair when we heard that the rhythm section of Dutch formation Automatic Sam had left the band after the amazing Texino record in 2011. Their first official release Hot Foot Oil in 2009 had been a righteous firestarter and the follow-up Texino had conquered our garage rocking souls completely. But we can now rest easy and rock hard for the new foursome has delivered one crackling muddy powerhouse of a successor named Sonic Whip. With drummer Tim van Delft (De Staat) and bassist Erik Harbers (Woost) the grade a riffs explode even louder through the speakers. We hear something heavier, more grinding and compelling. They even managed to condense their bluesy rock sound from earlier albums into something wickedly wayward and headstrong giving more air to every composition. Ambitious and dynamic and with a highly infectious sultry atmosphere. The constant sweaty tension makes this one of the best albums to come from the Netherlands this year…

(Written by JK)

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Shaking Godspeed – Hoera

Shaking Godspeed – Hoera
Suburban – 2012
Rock, Free, Blues, Garage, Psychedelics
Rated: *****

On this last day of Christmas, errr, I mean Dutch Courage Month, we visit the best album that has been released so far this year. Three cheers for Shaking Godspeed and their second full-sized album called Hoera! (Hoera! Hoera! Hoera!) Their self-titled EP blew everyone away in 2010 and their first complete record Awe left everyone wondering in amazement where this greatness originated from and where it might lead. Well, the trio has struck again. This time they decided to mold and compress their musical madness into some kind of pop structure. Their wild and savage sound is brilliantly combined with something bittersweet and lusciously deceiving. It is raw and feral blues mingled with psychedelic and kaleidoscopic garage without becoming too heavy, plump or unmanageable. Progressive free rock like the good Captain used to make. But condensed and with an obvious intent; a resolute to inspire, enchant and ravish like only a pure masterpiece can do. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

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Deadbeat Passenger – Demo

Deadbeat Passenger – Demo
Self released – 2010
Rock, Blues, Garage, Psychedelics
Rated: ****

After The Bloody Honkies ceased to be and the members went their separate ways, the brothers Mul started their own project called Deadbeat Passenger. It was a short-lived project that garnered serious attention but could not hold on to the magic that was felt during the first sessions with the lovely drummer Danielle van Gaalen and bassist David van Lochem. We are left with a three-track demo and a song that was added to a Dutch collection record. It has a similar sound to the Honkies but with more roots and Americana influences and even has something that usually only Norwegian bands have. Something cold but steamy and something wide, weird and full of air. Driven by fat blues riffs that flusters the gut and excites the blood that courses through your veins the songs put their hooks in you on a first listen. Wild driving music! And since it’s Valentine’s day; let’s profess our love to the lovely Danielle!

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The Bloody Honkies – The Gospel Of

The Bloody Honkies – The Gospel Of
Sonic Rendezvous – 2007
Rock, Blues, Garage, Psychedelics
Rated: *****

Today we visit one of the albums that started the rise of the Nijmegen, Arnhem and Achterhoek region as the rock center of the Netherlands. Drinking buddies from little villages surrounding Lichtenvoorde found a home in the barn of their guitar player baptizing it as the Magic Barn. Soon their sound developed into something raw and savage. A deeper and soulful version of garage and blues then anything else coming from the Lowlands at that point in time. They called themselves The Bloody Honkies and before dissolving again and starting a string of other bands they were able to release one brilliant album called The Gospel Of. It is an atavistic version of sixties and seventies garage; and with their high energy and wild spirit they never sound as a copy but as their own original version of all that came before. Absolute stunning album!

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