With two releases under their belts, French rockers Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers might still be lurking in the shadows of recognition with a great many but that could be changing with the release of their new mini album which is simply called #3. Bursting with attitude loaded, fiery rock ‘n’ roll, the band’s third offering is a blaze of impassioned sound and inventive tenacity which makes a very good impression first time around but just gets more creatively impressive and boldly persuasive with every taking of its rousing stomp.
Hailing from Oléron, an island off the Atlantic coast of France and due west of Rochefort, Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers consists of Archi Deep, Camille Sullet, and Martin Leroy. Formed around two years ago, the band quickly sparked attention with debut EP #1 in the November of 2013. Shows and tours around France followed with hunger, the band more recently spreading their sounds in French tours and into the UK after the successful release last year of their second EP, #2. Now their energy fuelled blues spiced, and slightly warped rock ‘n’ roll has an increasingly thrilling outing with the latest proposal from the band. With this also our introduction to Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers, we cannot say how it compares to their previous encounters, or describe the growth of their sound, but looking ahead with #3 as evidence, this is a band going places and more than worthy of a hefty moment of your time.
Their sound is a kind of a mix between two UK bands past and present, a kind of coincidental hybrid of My Red Cell and Medusa, and as suggested more irresistibly tempting with every excursion. The EP starts with Nowhere Man and a great scraping of guitar which in turn triggers a groaning bass groove aligned to equally cantankerous and thickly enticing scythes of melodic tonic. The voice of Archi carries similar attitude and expression, his tones also crawling seductively through ears but with an intimidating glint of devilish intent in tow. The song continues to prowl until the blues rock enterprise within the strings and fingers on the guitar cannot restrain their resourceful and smiling endeavour any longer, throwing off any wrap to further light ears and imagination. The band’s current single, it is stirring stuff with the heavy swiping beats only ensuring further that its impact just gets bigger and more tempestuous over time.
The excellent start continues with I’m On The Run, a song opening with a far mellower and gentle coaxing for ears. The enjoyable and already slightly off-kilter vocal delivery is an immediate tempting which is hugged by a hazy melodic web of guitar. Attention is tempted instantly and firmly hooked once a mighty rally of beats sparks the track to burst out with an infectious swing to its body and gait. A wonderful gnarly tone from the bass quickly adds to the theatre and addictiveness of the song, its raw snarl matched in fuzzy kind by riffs, the intensity of the beats, and the salacious glamour lining the enthralling tendrils of blues skinned craft spinning from guitars. It also carries a great stoner-esque feel to its almost bruising rock ‘n roll, another additive to leave thoughts and appetite grinning greedily.
High Minds engages ears next, its acoustic kaleidoscope a tapestry of flavours and seemingly inspirations, merging everything from rock to rap to indie to Lennon and McCartney with imagination. The song is an instant friend which again, as is the theme of the release, just gets more compelling and involving with every escapade with it, a quality once more reflected in the southern kissed, desert rock of I Can See. Whether, moving on a relaxed and spicy canter or uncaging a bracing tempest of energy, veined by molten guitar and spiky rhythmic adventure, the song is aural virulence and quite irresistible.
Taking a little longer than others to tap into the same kind of reactions found elsewhere, Real is a smouldering incitement which just seems to get more determined to have its way with every play, that an inevitable success with its great emotive and melodic turbulence, though with personal tastes it still has to settle for the shade of its companions, especially against the closing mercurial roar of If Only It Was Sunny. The song is glorious, an unpredictable and explosive blues croon of dirty and heart felt rock ‘n’ roll, and the perfect way to conclude one riveting release.
If you like your rock ‘n’ roll on fire than take it from us, Archi Deep and the Monkeyshakers and #3 is a must check out. Simple as that!
#3 is released October 2nd and available digitally at the band’s Bandcamp.
http://www.archideep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/archideep
Pete RingMaster 01/10/2015
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