The BellRays - 'Meet The BellRays' (Poptones)
4/5
By: Toby L
That cheeky Alan McGee. Following his closing-down of Creation Records and then opening of a new label-imprint, Poptones - which, after many troubles, is seemingly hitting its stride - he's at it again. As if spawning a successful international career for Sweden's The Hives - via producing a compilation of their best moments from over the last seven years - wasn't enough, the man is now ready to repeat this formula - with the Riverside, USA soul-rock quartet, The BellRays. Except, this time, things are a bit more dramatic...
Fronted by the genius-talent of Rowetta from Happy Mondays-cum-Franklin vocal-hugeness of Lisa Kekaula, the scrappy punk guitar and literally roaring bass evokes an era where Black Flag were kings, and attitude was essential. The contrast lurking within the music because of these two different styles is highly noticeable at all times - though it never at all comes across as a conflict in any endeavours.
Due to the bulky nature of 'Meet The BellRays' - comprised of remastered material originally from LPs such as 'Grand Fury' and 'Let It Blast' - the fourteen tracks on show, although individually short and sweet, occasionally vary in quality. Whereas such anthemic numbers as the opening 'Too Many Houses In Here' and recent single, 'Fire On The Moon' emote a sassiness that consists of James Brown's finest squeals and funk-fuelled appeal or The Stooges' quintessential moody-distortion, occasionally, you'll find a track here and there which would far better serve as a b-side on an emerging 45-release as opposed to an esteemed, selected album-tune; obviously, the concept of 'less is more' isn't as tantalising as 'shove as much on as possible in a coherent order' to those in charge of the record's structuring...
Still, this is a petty qualm; The BellRays signify an energy, passion and musical-focus that is entirely distinctive and confusingly original in all the most fitting ways possible. Immediately, it serves as a great advertisement to catch their show live, for - although the work as itself sounds quite special - the output of classics including 'Blues For Godzilla' just seems born for the stage.
So, correct to the title of the release, The BellRays are definitely worth meeting - and becoming well accustomed to. Sheesh, that cheeky Alan McGee - looks like he's done it again.
Artists in this article: The BellRays
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