England / France - Full Moon 160 - 10/04/09

Get Back Guinozzi!
Low Files Tropical
FatCat Records

Get Back Guinozzi! is the rather odd name of the London (UK)/Toulon (France) five-piece. "Low Files Tropical" is singer Eglantine Gouzy, guitarist Fred Landini and co's debut single, a double a-sided 7", and mp3 (what, a-side mp3...!?) , in UK/Europe) on FatCat, and a taster lifted from the upcoming debut album, Carpet Madness (out October 26th). I just had to check out a band listing The Feelies among their influences (alongside Can, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Marine Girls, The Slits, The Style Council, The B-52'S, Roy Orbison, Happy Mondays, Gang Gang Dance, Ariel Pink, Bret Easton Ellis (!), Donna Summer, Ennio Morricone... and Peter Sellers, to name a few... ).

Get Back Guinozzi!'s sound is some quirky pop style music of summery calibre. Thin wristed indie pop, influenced by the exoticism of dub and reggae, African music, Tropicalia, and Cambodian music from the '60s. "Low Files Tropical" is a fine pop cocktail, and some of their influences are obvious: Marine Girls, Tom Tom Club, The Slits, maybe even Young Marble Giants. Yes, throw in Heavenly as well. The other song is a cover of "Police and Thieves" (originally by Junior Murvin, but covered by a lot, including The Clash). Charming, but not mind-blowing.

So, this is colourful, hybrid pop. But most of all total quirkiness. I'm not sure if that's all positive, but I'll be holding an eye/ear on this gang.

Copyright © 2009 Håvard Oppøyen