The ghost of Phil Spector’s mixing desk looms large over the new album by the Danish/Brazilian garage rock revivalists the Courettes. There’s even a cry of “Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!” to accompany the rocking go-go surf beat of “Hop the Twig”.
The influence of the Shangri-Las in particular, is even more explicit on likes of “Want You! Like a Cigarette” and “Hey Boy”, with its “Give me a kiss before you go” reprise. Saxophones, tambourines and spoken lyrics join Flavia and Martin Couri’s twanging guitar and strident drumming in the echo chamber to make some serious teenage symphonies and it feels like we’re back in 1964. It’s all good though. In fact, it’s a great deal better than good.
Elsewhere, there’s lively vintage garage rock to rival the likes of the Seeds or the Sonics and “Edge of my Nerves” brings some wild fuzz guitar from Flavia and a rattling beat from Martin. There’s even a tribute to Sir Richard Starkey MBE on “R.I.N.G.O.”. While “Won’t Let You Go” and “Trash Can Honey” both add a rockabilly groove that seriously has the wind in its hair. This may be revivalist stuff but it really doesn’t feel like it’s stuck in a rut. In fact, it’s a complete riot.
“Hop the Twig”, however, is the stand-out track on Back In Mono. A Duane Eddy twang is backed by garage rock vibes, a raucous beat, screams and Sixties girl group vocals singing supremely daft lyrics. It really is pure gold that’s guaranteed to get even the most jaded dancer up on their feet and shaking a leg.
The Courettes are touring the UK in the second half of this month (October 2021) and it really would be a shame to miss out if they are as good on stage as they are on record.
