The Claudettes Garage Glamour
Well, if this doesn’t have the thrust of elaborate music out of the ‘70s with rock dipped generously in a cauldron of the Mael Brothers of Sparks (“This Town Ain’t Big Enough For the Both of Us”). The Claudettes “(You Are My) Whole World” is stitched with easy-listening populist appeal yet arranged with muscle & both barrels of the glorious vocals of Rachel Williams. It’s not as crazy as Deaf School with Bette Bright (“All Queued Up”), but it has seamless reminders of their energy & unfailingly melodious alchemy. Like Deaf School, The Claudettes have music hall color that has relevance polished to reinvent the genre.
10 smart tracks penetrate Garage Glamour (Dropped June 5/Pravda Records/33:02) with “Winter Came While You Were Gone” delivering a flurry of punches. Wonderful groove, stinging instrumentation, catchy piece. It stretches in a formidable fashion. Typical of the creativity that loaded up the mid-70s with new wave groups that were astonishingly original.
This set reminds me of that era. It’s filled with one track after another, striking well-thought-out numbers. The Euro-trash attitude of “That Could Be Arranged” is superb, especially with the flowing Johnny Iguana piano notes & organ gnashes. Lots to digest, but it’s worth exploring. The LP is laid out like a good noir film, scene after scene of great characters in ambitious settings.
Ms. Williams is consistently interesting & musically; some songs have retro additions (“Touch You Back”), slightly laid back in a middle-of-the-road manner but powered by high test musicianship. You can almost hear the likes of Patti Page, Joni James & Julie London going for broke on this. Again, strong piano notes & wise synth injections — never too much. Bright, sure-fingered & a musical applique that is laced like a fruit punch at a Beat Generation rent party.
“Whirlpool” has Duane Eddy/Link Wray/Lonnie Mack flavored guitars & it’s delicious. Taking something vintage & actually making it sound just invented. Cool. The crazy Iguana upright piano run holds it together like glue. Williams is amazing with her ‘50s style vocal coda – holding the note, pure chanteuse. A bit more novelty-oriented but with Charles Atlas’s stamina is “Mr. Pecker’s Apoplexy.” This is Deaf School sharp with its burlesque-house romp & vaudeville acumen. This is showbiz, baby. Choose your own images.
Some songs are close to Tom Waits’ edginess. Produced by The Claudettes, Steve Berkowitz & JQ. One of the year’s best. Filled with surplus excitement. Trust me.
Highlights – “(You Are My) Whole World,” “Winter Came While You Were Gone,” “That Could Be Arranged,” “Touch You Back,” “Whirlpool,” “Mr. Pecker’s Apoplexy,” & “There Is No Other Side.”
Musicians – Johnny Iguana (keys/vocals), Zach Veerdorn (basses/guitars/vocals), Michael Caskey (drums/percussion) with John Primer (vocals/add’l guitar), & Ella Feingold (add’l guitar).
CD cover by D. Anson Brody. Band image courtesy of their website gallery. CD @ Bandcamp & https://theclaudettes.com/