Since the end of the 60’s bands and music fans alike have had a perpetual love and yearning for a return to the old days of proper, authentic, rock ‘n‘ roll. Some like to dress like their idols, others like Austin Texas‘ Strange Boys like to sound like them. Unfortunately, over the years a lot of 60’s revivalists have pastiched every ounce of soul and power out of the music (not pointing any fingers...Noel) giving more reason for the originals to be placed on an even higher plateau.



Luckily, Strange Boys don’t fall into this category. Their strictly lo-fi take on R&B when it still meant Rhythm & Blues keeps its feet firmly rooted in it’s Cuban heels but doesn’t feel like a second rate imitation. The overall sound of the album resembles a 1964-66 Stones version of Blonde On Blonde being played through a very old radio early on a summers evening just as it begins to get chilly. The raspy but fragile drawl of Ryan Sambol wails out catchy melodies with all the forlorn sincerity of a true bluesman whilst the band accompany with ramshackle, fuzzed out Nuggets style tunes played at such a relaxed pace it almost seems like they couldn’t be bothered, only almost mind, and that's the beauty of this record.




Whereas predecessor “Strange Boys and Girls Club” rocked out with serious semi-hollow twang and Kinksy guitar solos, “Be Brave” represents a maturing in terms of song writing and arrangement into something a lot more chilled out and thought out than the first effort.





Beginning with the harmonica laden shambling 'I See' and slowly staggering into the equally nonchalant 'Walk On The Bleach' the album openers seem to make no attempt at catching your ears at all, until half way through the latter tune the band kicks in and the pace picks up leading into title track and lead single 'Be Brave' which is the standout of this album with a guitar riff as catchy as cold, an infectious call and response chorus and a killer sax solo. The rest of the album is made up of stripped down and timeless tunes like 'Dare I Say' and the brilliant 'Between Us' which clocks in as the longest track on the album at 3:20 and contains the great opening line “by the time I get back, all the kittens have turned to cats”.




Strange Boys do bluesy garage rock very well, the only problem being that it has been done before and the early Stones records and garage compilations will always be held in higher regard than an imitator. You never know though, some of these tunes might turn up on a future Nuggets style garage comp to be rediscovered 40 years from now, although that might create some kind of black hole and implode the universe....or something.



Released 22nd February 2010 on Rough Trade