North East supergroup The Che Men drop their debut mini-LP ‘Echoes Of The 30s’ this December – and it’s a genre-flipping gem.
The title track has tropes of Elvis Costello in its vocal tone, wrapped up with jangle-pop guitars, while the closing track, ‘Wasted Lands’, bounces along in a reggae style.
Sandwiched between these are the ska bop ‘Goodbye Dictator’ and three covers that unify the LP with a voice of political charge, juxtaposed perfectly against a more upbeat melodic stream.
Each cover pays homage to its lesser-known original while allowing for new inspirations and interpretations. ‘Mill Hill’ draws from the Spencer Davis Group, while ‘Jangling Man’ is stripped back and smooth.
What makes ‘Echoes Of The 30s’ really gel is the distinction between each member’s craft throughout a journey of differing techniques. Layers of percussion, bass, guitar, and keys permeate each track with a freshness that doesn’t falter, and the springy sax deserves a mention of its own (with ‘Goodbye Dictator’ standing out!).
‘Echoes Of The 30s’ is released by Red Star Recordings on 12-inch vinyl on Thursday 12th December.
