It’s hard to believe that Bournemouth rockers The Electric Shakes have been ploughing their particular furrow of dirty riff based rock ‘n’ roll for a decade but it would appear that’s the case and, to mark the occasion, as well as a busier than ever gigging schedule, they’ve shown they’re not stopping yet as they’ve released a EP of brand new music, Ten Years In Overdrive.
Having been recorded by the rightly renowned Ed Deegan at Gizzard Recording in Hackney the retro feel is real from the off as the sounds start exactly as we’ve come to expect on Breaking Me Loose with power grooves thundering forth combining hints of English greats as diverse as Sabbath and Quo (at their less cheesy and more rocking moments) with the likes of ZZ Top and even some AC/DC.
That isn’t to say this is ‘dad rock’ though, as it comes with an energy more reminiscent of The Stooges or The MC5 but all with The Electric Shakes own special something tying it all together.
Make It Last then throws a real twist as The Shakes get more epic than ever before and, while I wouldn’t say it heads into full psych territory, there is a feel of it bubbling away underneath as the track goes on.
The whole thing builds from another driving riff and proceeds on to places that really allow lead guitarist Rusty, who makes his debut on record with the band here, room to show off just what he’s got – and boy does it sound good.
The raw vitality that marks the record continues with the brilliantly titled White Wine Psychosis which has a familiarity about it, reminding me of Lightspeed Mother from the band’s debut record, but not so much as to feel like the Shakes are retreading old ground but more that it fits into the more classic side of their style.
Added to that classic sound comes the aforementioned extra guitar power of Rusty, combined with Lynchburg’s already formidable six string attack, along with backing vocals that come together brilliantly while the whole track pushes the limits of pace and speed but never quite goes too far, giving it the feel of Mad Max: Fury Road in musical form.
Things slow down a little as the band head back into more epic mode for Take The Lid Off My Darkness bringing a, comparatively, laconic feel to things with the AC/DC touches coming through again (though it’s hardly slow) and once again the garage groove the band produce is captivating.
Mid way through the whole song twists to a new groove in a way that feels like it might take things off the rails, but it never does and, even more impressively, it leads us back to the opening vibe without missing a beat as it then builds to a suitably rock ‘n’ roll ending to close the EP.
Across the whole EP it struck me, possibly more than ever, quite why Lynchburg’s (aka Steve Lynch) voice works so well, not just here but on some of his other projects as well, as it has something of a mid-Atlantic quality but without feeling like its being put on, so, much like the music, it combines elements of British and American rock ‘n’ roll that just elevates the whole thing – while still sounding very much like him.
As a whole then this EP is raw and lo-fi in the best ways while not losing the clarity the songs need as The Electric Shakes themselves show that they are a band who really know what they’re doing and what they want from their music, not standing still but, nonetheless, sticking to their guns – here’s to another Ten Years In Overdrive.
Tommy Girard 
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