Everything about Les Bof! is a surprise and real pleasure; great rewards found in our introduction to them courtesy of the guys at the ever welcome Dirty Water Records. The reason for it all is new album, Voila!; a collection of songs which got under the skin like a mischievously voracious itch.
Les Bof! revels in the heart of French 60s garage rock but a band hailing from the rousing highlands of Scotland. Featuring members of The Thanes, The No-Things, The Sensation Seekers, and Preston Pfanz & the Seaton Sands, the quartet consists of guitarist Angus McPake, bassist Colin Morris, drummer Ross Fairbairn, and French chanteur Laurent Monbel. 2011 saw the release of debut album, Nous Sommes les Bof!, something easy to feel we really missed out on such the addictive and rousing exploits now of Voila! and its fourteen enthralling romps.
From the moment opener Jezebel melodically rumbled into view it is fair to say we were hooked, especially once it set down its swinging gait and nagging stroll. Monbel’s vocals as swiftly enticed even though in a language we have never had a handle on, his tempting more than matched by guitar and rhythmic enterprise. There is a whiff of Mano Negra to the track’s garage rock revelry, a favouring which repeats enjoyably across the album from time to time.
With its drama and captivation increasing by the chord, the song makes way for the just as alluring Fin De Monde, a song with definite Stones-esque flaming to its hooks and energy. Rock ‘n’ roll of the most magnetic order it is still soon eclipsed by the thrilling Vie De Chien. Already in three songs Les Bof! have proven adept at the most merciless of hooks and melodic devilry, the third song casting its own irresistible types led by the delicious groove of the bass wrapped in the spidery snare of guitar; alone one of the most seductive moments of the album.
The sing-a-long canter of Ma Claque just commands participation next up while Je Suis Le Boss owns ears with its sepia shaded sixties shuffle blessed with the intoxicating jangle of keys and the harmonic flaming of Monbel; another great pair which is still outshone by another as Drogue ‘N’ Roll swaggers in with unapologetically flirtatious grooves leading devilish power pop tainted moves and garage pop sprung temptation.
The surf seduction of Souviens Toi nestles perfectly in the arms of the song’s intimate chanson to simply bewitch with Un Deux Trois Quatre bringing the body back to full involvement with its eager animation and virulent quiver; physical excitement further escalated by the rawer but no less melodically enticing rock ‘n’ roll of Soixante-Huitard.
As Liberes Moi with its fiery sixties breath inflames and the similarly era nurtured prowl of C’est La Vie taunts, Voila! only enriched its fascination, grip, and variety of sound with La Fievre Du R’n’R adding to all with its garage rock fever and inescapable holler.
The album goes out as masterfully as it came in; Port St Louis teasing and transfixing with its smouldering instrumental writhing with threads of sonic fire before Formidable provides arguably the most addictive moment of the album with its niggling hooks and flirtation loaded swing. It is a glorious end to quite simply one of the real pleasures of the year so far so as Les Bof! declares…Voila!
Voila! is out now via Dirty Water Records: available @ https://lesbof.bandcamp.com/album/voila
https://www.facebook.com/Les-BOF-109315552443996/ http://www.lesbof.fr
Pete RingMaster 25/06/2019
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
As the song outdid its predecessor, so Dumb left it in the shade a touch with its communicable dance and discord. Again drone and incessant nagging makes up the irresistible character and insistence of a Deathcrush song, its repetitive but adventurous persistence a voraciously crawling incitement proving so easy to devour before Filthy Street casts its own magnetic sonic austerity; it too something which stalks as it seduces while throbbing resonance springs from Bamle’s bass infestation. Unsurprisingly the song’s sound and breath echoes the landscape of its title, getting into every pore and corner of the psyche like aural pestilence and igniting both for richer pleasure.
It is a great start to the release driven by the rhythmic powerhouse of drummer Frazer Parker and bassist Pete Cook; their muscle complemented by craft as echoed within next up Epitaph. Similarly the prowess of Allison’s delivery and tones are a potent essence in the track’s adventurous stroll, the guitars of Jamie Parker and Lewis Wheeler writhing and creating around all with sonic and melodic dexterity. As all tracks; it too is an offering which revels in its mix of metallic and melodic strains which teases of others yet never shares anything less than individuality.
The following Making Trouble brings a thick growl to its Vaselines-esque flirtation, eager energy and a dirt encrusted sheen adding to its instantly gripping character while Never Is Forever simply had ears hooked from its initial invitation of lone bass. The ever manipulative rhythms of Sturgis soon join the inescapable temptation; guitars and voices no slouches in adding to the refreshing enterprise fuelling one irresistible moment within Stay Cool.
The EP opens up with its title track, Penny Drop initially stroking ears with fuzz loaded riffs before the same guitar begins deviously scything across the senses as the tones of vocalist/guitarist Jimi Trimmer break. Simultaneously the tenaciously strolling beats of drummer Aidan McGill erupt alongside the just as sturdy bassline of Lewis Patterson, guitarist Issak Patternson continuing to tease and tempt alongside the lures of Trimmer. Just as you think you have a handle on the song, it twists into a whole new channel of virulence to manipulate and seduce, never once taking its foot off its imagination and feverish enterprise.
With so many tracks within its bulging walls let’s get the fillers out of the way first…..OK that’s done! Truly every moment with Double Bastard is an essential incitement of rock ‘n’ roll with Teenage Teenagers the first to exploit an admittedly already in waiting appetite. From its first breath the song is an infectiously eager clamour, vocals leading the manipulation as Fazzo’s beats and Joey Strange’s throaty bassline direct its catchy stroll. The guitars of Tom ‘G Force’ Batterbee and Stew Page weave their own melodic temptation into the familiar SV and the Eruptions mix but one wholly individual proposition.