The Three Blind Mice - Early Morning Scum
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We all know the gruesome British rhyme about the three blind mice and farmers’ wife with a carving knife, who deprives them of their tails. Italian The Three Blind Mice show that for sure one thing they are not missing: sharpened music hearing, and that makes "Early Morning Scum" one of the best rock debuts in recent years.
Sense of taste allowed the musicians to create a chimeric, although in a positive sense, album: both in terms of mood and inspiration. And these refer to the golden traditions of blues and rock, which, combined with strong post-punk influences create specific, strict focus. Indeed "specific" is the most appropriate adjective for the record’s content. Quickly come to mind irresistible associations with Quentin Tarantino, who with a great probability would show willingness to use the trio’s works on the soundtrack of one of his subsequent movies.
This comparison strengthen the stories contained in original lyrics and accompanying them black humor. Amazing, how Italians managed to present the hot of Wild West in most of compositions (although it is not really surprising, given the fact that the best movies with this subject are Spaghetti Westerns). Effectively in this purpose band uses organs, harmonica appears ("Dust Devil", "Little Animals", "Jesus"), tambourine ("Golden Spiral Kill", "Slow Motion"), but the largest part have guitars with a wide using of the wah-wah effect. Even though you can look for comparisons to Link Wray achievements, group derives most from the swamp rock. Thus, weight assigned by dirty, low guitar. Hence, danceable, pulsating rhythm section (delightful bass in "Devastation Town"). Thus, severity originally belonging to country. Hence, seductive anxiety and a kind of darkness.
"Early Morning Scum" begins with heavy, dynamic "Asphalt Jungle" - sharp song, yet quite simple. In calmer "Bug Under Glass" we have no longer to deal with wall of guitar’s sounds, with such a powerful expressivity, while the focus was on almost feverish, unhealthy, but attractive climate, also built by the organs. In the material intertwine thrilling energetic bombs and ballads, some compositions oscillate at their borderlines, but the band almost always remains at the heights of postmodern artistry.
Further we have intense, danceable "Devastation Town" melancholy "Dust Devil", in which magical atmosphere is evoked by harmonica (almost feels alive that warm, dry prairie’s sand gets into the shoes of listener), ironic, melodic "Three Storey Girl" with deep, hypnotic bass and beautiful guitar’s solos (extremely liked by the group). Especially noteworthy is "Golden Spiral Kill", thanks to the use of "exotic" drums and tambourine, and by erratic post-punk that lets to enjoy pleasant chills of anxiety. Another sad ballad "Little Animals" is sometimes transformed into emotional, guitar play, but then again harmonica rules by spell the listener. Contrasting with it vivid, rock "Slow Motion" is distinguished by smooth, very bright, positive sound, shown also in "Half Seas Over ". The album ends with a slow, relaxing "Jesus", referring to the roots classics of rock and blues.
CD is accompanied by a hidden, quite raw cover of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane", but it adds nothing in album’s receiving - turns out to be ordinary, unremarkable. Besides, among aforementioned pearls does not impress "Knuckles". Good lyrics will not improve music - although it is not bad, it turns out as pale among other compositions.
Vocal is the material’s advantage. Admittedly, the leader’s voice does not stand out with scale or school of vocal, but it has some possibilities of interpretation - sometimes strong and sharp, sometimes nasal, sometimes gently caressing eardrums; fits perfectly in convention with its melodicism and dynamics. You listen to it with pleasure.
But what is most important, this music is characterized by tradition of sound. All songs were recorded in analog way, which adds them atmosphere and charm of old recordings. And maybe therefore they seem pleasantly "garage".
I recommend to admire the Italians’ work, sitting with a glass of bourbon’ whiskey in the hand - elegant, slightly peaty aroma operating on two senses for sure will strengthen the experience. More of such records.
Tracklist:
01. Asphalt Jungle
02. Bug Under Glass
03. Devastation Town
04. Dust Devil
05. Three Storey Girl
06. Knuckles
07. Golden Spiral Kill
08. Little Animals
09. Slow Motion
10. Half Seas Over
11. Jesus
Sense of taste allowed the musicians to create a chimeric, although in a positive sense, album: both in terms of mood and inspiration. And these refer to the golden traditions of blues and rock, which, combined with strong post-punk influences create specific, strict focus. Indeed "specific" is the most appropriate adjective for the record’s content. Quickly come to mind irresistible associations with Quentin Tarantino, who with a great probability would show willingness to use the trio’s works on the soundtrack of one of his subsequent movies.
This comparison strengthen the stories contained in original lyrics and accompanying them black humor. Amazing, how Italians managed to present the hot of Wild West in most of compositions (although it is not really surprising, given the fact that the best movies with this subject are Spaghetti Westerns). Effectively in this purpose band uses organs, harmonica appears ("Dust Devil", "Little Animals", "Jesus"), tambourine ("Golden Spiral Kill", "Slow Motion"), but the largest part have guitars with a wide using of the wah-wah effect. Even though you can look for comparisons to Link Wray achievements, group derives most from the swamp rock. Thus, weight assigned by dirty, low guitar. Hence, danceable, pulsating rhythm section (delightful bass in "Devastation Town"). Thus, severity originally belonging to country. Hence, seductive anxiety and a kind of darkness.
"Early Morning Scum" begins with heavy, dynamic "Asphalt Jungle" - sharp song, yet quite simple. In calmer "Bug Under Glass" we have no longer to deal with wall of guitar’s sounds, with such a powerful expressivity, while the focus was on almost feverish, unhealthy, but attractive climate, also built by the organs. In the material intertwine thrilling energetic bombs and ballads, some compositions oscillate at their borderlines, but the band almost always remains at the heights of postmodern artistry.
Further we have intense, danceable "Devastation Town" melancholy "Dust Devil", in which magical atmosphere is evoked by harmonica (almost feels alive that warm, dry prairie’s sand gets into the shoes of listener), ironic, melodic "Three Storey Girl" with deep, hypnotic bass and beautiful guitar’s solos (extremely liked by the group). Especially noteworthy is "Golden Spiral Kill", thanks to the use of "exotic" drums and tambourine, and by erratic post-punk that lets to enjoy pleasant chills of anxiety. Another sad ballad "Little Animals" is sometimes transformed into emotional, guitar play, but then again harmonica rules by spell the listener. Contrasting with it vivid, rock "Slow Motion" is distinguished by smooth, very bright, positive sound, shown also in "Half Seas Over ". The album ends with a slow, relaxing "Jesus", referring to the roots classics of rock and blues.
CD is accompanied by a hidden, quite raw cover of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane", but it adds nothing in album’s receiving - turns out to be ordinary, unremarkable. Besides, among aforementioned pearls does not impress "Knuckles". Good lyrics will not improve music - although it is not bad, it turns out as pale among other compositions.
Vocal is the material’s advantage. Admittedly, the leader’s voice does not stand out with scale or school of vocal, but it has some possibilities of interpretation - sometimes strong and sharp, sometimes nasal, sometimes gently caressing eardrums; fits perfectly in convention with its melodicism and dynamics. You listen to it with pleasure.
But what is most important, this music is characterized by tradition of sound. All songs were recorded in analog way, which adds them atmosphere and charm of old recordings. And maybe therefore they seem pleasantly "garage".
I recommend to admire the Italians’ work, sitting with a glass of bourbon’ whiskey in the hand - elegant, slightly peaty aroma operating on two senses for sure will strengthen the experience. More of such records.
Tracklist:
01. Asphalt Jungle
02. Bug Under Glass
03. Devastation Town
04. Dust Devil
05. Three Storey Girl
06. Knuckles
07. Golden Spiral Kill
08. Little Animals
09. Slow Motion
10. Half Seas Over
11. Jesus
