So, it has been ten years since I first witnessed a little known band to me; 3rd on the bill at Bournemouth’s Anvil Rock music venue, little did I know it was going to be a love affair that would endure for so long. Wind forward ten years and last night (Friday) I’m watching them playing 2nd on the bill when really they should be headlining.
“So, Ten Years in Overdrive” – it certainly has been! To celebrate that milestone comes this EP to bookmark the achievement.
“Breaking Me Loose” opens the Ep as they shake off (sic) any early Dirty RnR leanings for a more stellar Old Skool Garage Rock sound. Steve (Guitar/Lead vocals) layers his vocal over thumping drums (Basha) holding the beat alongside the strained chords and Eric’s throbbing bass. The term “loose” has been a staple in the Shakes canon for some time now, I dunno if that’s just a coincidence but if the cap fits… There are influences aplenty going on here, one wonders if they’ve had “Wolfmother” or “The Seers” on permanent rotation recently; or if it’s just coincidental, either way the addition of Jordan Gray (lead guitar/vocals) has beefed up an already heavy sound. The noodly bridge is nothing new, almost expected?! At nearly 5 mins duration I find it overlong, but they have crammed so much in I find myself sticking with it right up to its abrupt conclusion.
“Make It Last” with its swirling guitars has more than a nod to “Woman” (Wolfmother) as it chugs along at a steady pace. Clear audible vocals compliment a wonderful guitar part that just holds ones attention. A whirring noodly bridge was never gonna be far away and again they’ve opted for longevity – one wonders if they were jamming in a studio and thought “this works, we’ll stick with it”?! It’s definitely not a lead track, its ending would suggest it’s a live set closer. Make It Last, they certainly have!!
“White Wine Psychosis” now there’s a thing! Big squally intro and another wonderful guitar section holding it all together – replete with squeals and squalls. The huge bridge and consistent snare bashing are the mainstays on the shortest track of the four that keep to the Electric Shakes template – a return to form if you like.
“Take The Lid Off My Darkness” – once again we’re here for the longhaul. Midsong sees another experimental guitar section which gives way to a catchy chorus. It then becomes a song of two halves as it slows down, holding back on the energy and at a risk of stating the obvious the riff from ‘Make It Last’ re-appears!
I have to admit this EP is quite a departure from their earlier work. I was one of a few commentators who said for the band to progress they needed to expand their sound amid other genre’s so I applaud them for that. Plenty of Bournemouth bands are happy to sit still and never progress, this was never in the Shakes minds. Always a band to push the envelope, they are starting to build a head of steam, making friends in the right places that will push them to greater heights. And while this isn’t “My” favourite body of work, it does see a sea change in their sound. Proof if it were ever needed, if you put in the hard yards you reap the rewards. I said ten years ago ‘go see this band in a small venue while you still can’. They are modest enough to still play some smaller venues, but I genuinely feel bigger shows are on the horizon…..
Track-Listing
Breaking Me Loose
Make It Last
White Wine Psychosis
Take The Lid Off My Darkness
Recorded mixed and mastered by Ed Deegan at Gizzard Studios, Hackney, London, March/April 2024,
Produced by The Electric Shakes.
Music by The Electric Shakes.,
Words by S. Lynch.
Copyright The Electric Shakes 202
The Electric Shakes are
Steve Lynch – Guitar/Lead Vocals
Eric Young – Bass/vocals
Mark ‘Basha’ Spiers – Drums.
Jordan Gray – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Links
https://www.theelectricshakes.com
https://theelectricshakes.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/theelectricshakes
Article By Ross A Ferrone
Photo credit Cris Watkins
