Sheek The Shayk
Hour Of The Seventh Moon
Laughing Outlaw Records
It’s sometimes hard to appreciate the appeal of garage band music to the musician, since it has a rather limited following from the record buying public. Certainly, there’s a low barrier to entry: a thrift shop guitar, a stolen drum kit and parents old and deaf enough to permit “rehearsals” out behind the Toyota. If the neighbors don’t kill you, you have at least a small shot at fame and fortune. There are good garage bands, and there are bad ones. Sheek the Shayk is in the “better than average” pile. They clearly hearken back to the psychedelic days that were old news when they were conceived – the graphics, lyrics and fuzz tone Les Paul are all in place. The press kit even points out their intentional similarity to the Nuggets series of LPs. So while I can’t guarantee that these guys have actually seen God on the yellow acid, they act that way on disc.
Sonically, it’s all in place. Pseudo-Hendrix guitars open “69 BC,” and gently melt away to a subtle yet intense bass line. “Daughters of the Revolution” leans ever so slightly towards the T-Rex sound, while other tunes could be identified with the pillars of rock. None of this is to imply that this is a slavish cover band. They take the roots of rock and allow them to grow in a controlled yet unconstrained direction. The result is a listenable sound, one even suitable for a party, but only the sort of party where you don’t expect any chicks to show up. So, pound down a sixer and crank these guys, they aren’t that bad.
Laughing Outlaw Records: http://www.laughingoutlaw.au
