Black Bananas - Electric Black Wall
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 14 / 7 / 2014
Label:
Drag City
Format: CD
intro
Unpredictable but gripping fusion of 1970’s rock, funk and electronica on debut album from Black Bananas, the new band of former Royal Trux front-woman Jennifer Herrema
Black Bananas, just like the ones one would normally see past their sell by date in supermarkets, have ripened artificially. The former Royal Trux head woman honcho in this relatively new Chicago bunch though leads her new troupe through a bonanza of unknown proportions. Darker and funkier than ever before, Jennifer Herrema's Black Bananas 'see red' on 'Physical Emotions' which finally shows Prince his place. Slices of 1970’s rock and funk music go into this salami of juicy Chicago grunge. The mix of white punks on dope funk and Doobie Brothers or Isley Brothers works extremely well at the beginning of this album. Next on 'Highway Down' Black Bananas bolt together a brief example of glittered-down sleaze rock from the 1970s.'Electric Brick Wall' oozes with liberated and freaked-out feeling. It succeeds at least to some extent in capturing the mayhem of that past, and blending it with bleeping and dithering electro-digifunk. The soaring slide guitar, similar in fashion to the aforementioned Isley Brothers, brings back this collection from punk to funk. A wall in the truest sense, this debut album proves to be a truly magnificent sound barrier. It is heartening to hear a synthesizer for once not being used as the lazy lead instrument. I honestly had no clue as to where Black Bananas were heading. This crazy, sleazy and warm record is as unpredictable as it is inspiring. Get this LP.
Track Listing:-
1 Powder 8 Eeeeeeeeight2 Dope On an Island
3 Hey Rockin'
4 Physical Emotions
5 Highway Down
6 Eve's Child
7 Ride the Chump
8 Give It To Me
9 Creeping the Line
10 Old Gold Chain
11 B******t and Lies
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/blackbananasbandhttp://www.blackbananasband.com/
Label Links:-
http://www.dragcity.com/https://twitter.com/dragcityrecords
https://www.facebook.com/dragcityrecords
reviews |
Rad Times Xpress IV (2012) |
Warped funk and glam rock on debut album from Black Bananas, the latest moniker for Royal Trux's Jennifer Herrema |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart