The Courettes – “Want You! Like A Cigarette” / “Night Time (The Boy Of Mine)” (Damaged Goods Records 530) July 2020
The Courettes Garage Trash: “Want You! Like A Cigarette” – they are a new band on the scene, a duo with Brazil / Denmark connections, who’ve released a handful of records and are regarded as one of the most exciting outfits creating thee garage trash sonics for years.
Their sound is fresh, stirring, thrilling and laden with punk rock attitude, harking back to the early ’60s Beat era for energy and skillful MONOphonic production values.
The Courettes Garage Trash
“Want You! Like A Cigarette” is a beautifully created, commercially enriching fuzz cruncher. The band utilise vintage instruments, Trixon drums, Vox, Selmer, tambourines, hand-claps, there’s even a mellotron in the mix.
It’s one of those perfect 45s that comes around every so often. BUY it! Their two-pronged live shows of caveman drums and fuzz guitar attack are also a righteous unholy racket.
The Courettes – “Hop The Twig” / “Only Happy When You’re Gone” (Damaged Goods Records 555) April 2021
The Courettes Garage Trash: “Hop The Twig” – The latest 45 from The Courettes also makes it into “Thee Crypt” and it’s a richly deserved entry.
“Hop The Twig” is not an instantly memorable number like “Want You! Like A Cigarette” purely because this cut is a lot harder edged, however, one can’t help but fall for the spirited Duane Eddy inspired reverb ‘n’ twang thrill of the opening guitar riff.
Pure dynamite and it’s this rock-a-beat rhythm pulse, along with the period style echoed drum pounding that gives “Hop The Twig” long-lasting reACTION!
Stir into this potent mix some ’50s style rock ‘n’ roll piano along with thee cavegirl screams from the exceptional Flávia Couri and we have another untamed hot disc.
The Courettes – “R.I.N.G.O.” / “The Boy I Love” (Damaged Goods Records 566) October 2021
AN APPRECIATION FOR LOVABLE MOP-TOP RICHARD STARKEY
“R.I.N.G.O” was released as an album taster from the acclaimed “Back In Mono” – a record I’ve had on the shelf for several months but still need to get around and enjoy it.
Well, what can I say about “R.I.N.G.O” ?? My word – The Courettes just get better and better with each single they’ve released. Although I do think that the time is now right to broaden their horizons a little bit and perhaps add more instruments into their mixes.
But back to “R.I.N.G.O” – this is a pure pop 45, a very commercial mid-sixties sound, full of inspiration and laden with inspired pop hooks galore. I’m quite sure that this kind of record would have been a smash-hit in 1964.
What a shame it’s 2022 otherwise The Courettes could have been famous and eating at the poshest restaurants and swanking at the Chelsea “IN” Clubs.
I do hope that Ringo gets to hear this tribute to him. We all love the chirpy little fellow who is forever making peace signs. And this number is a fitting song of praise.
By the way, The Courettes use vintage instruments and have somehow acquired a purist bucketful of teen spirit – even though Martin and Flavia are probably kickin’ on a bit, they still sound raw, fresh and exciting.
Their use of fuzz is controlled and the vocals are clear, composed and unpretentious. Production is incredibly good and the mix is sensational.
We all must cherish The Courettes and hope that they still have some records left in them.
The Courettes – “Back In Mono” (Damaged Goods Records 560 LP) October 2021
SWEET 3RD ALBUM OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TRASH CAN HONEY
The Courettes Garage Trash: have featured several times on my blog, check out the archives. I reviewed their single “Want You! Like A Cigarette” back in October 2021. That number, as well as the B-side “Night Time (The Boy Of Mine)” are represented here on side one of this, their third LP.
The first side is an action packed sonic feast for your ears with the primitive fuzz attack of their earlier recordings kind of smoothed out and made much more commercial and, dare I say, soul-tinged pop inspired all-be-it still hard-edged with added twelve-string guitar, mellotron, handclaps and castanets.
Back In Mono
“Back In Mono” is an album bursting with creativity and ideas. It’s also one of those rare records that doesn’t have any tracks that don’t attain the grade of worthiness.
The recent singles “Want You! Like A Cigarette” and “R.I.N.G.O” are not even the best songs in my opinion (and they’re both great!). I can’t stop playing the hauntingly supreme “Until You’re Mine.” – infesting your world with Courettes music can only reap rewards.
Side two opens with the reverb and fuzz blast of “Hop The Twig”, yet another single – released during April 2021. This is followed by “Misfits & Freaks”, a teen-garage raver inspired by the American girl-group sound of the mid sixties.
The scream-fest rocker “Edge Of My Nerves” livens things up a little after a couple of slowish numbers. “Won’t Let You Go” is another fast paced explosion, throwing sound wave fuzz bombs outta the speakers, a possibly ‘live in the studio’ take, it certainly sounds raw.
The Courettes are an exciting rock ‘n’ roll group on record, probably thee most exciting and entertaining duo making music today.
Buy their records and hope that they make many more in the future!
The Courettes are very active on their Facebook page so head on over there for more news and information.
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