With buzz, hum and distortion, it’s all hands to the tiller of the good ship Italian garage rock as Vermillion Sands set off on the kind of twisted journey through retro cool that simply spells fun. I don’t often get to use the word fun in a review but here it is both appropriate and justified.
First things first, on to the back story. This 2009 release only recently found its way into my possession. I had heard of the band through their recent, and irrepressibly enjoyable, offering “Summer Melody” so, naturally, I went off in search of more and tracked down this vinyl twelve incher in a tiny record shop called Volcanic Tongue.
With that out of the way, onwards to the music. Anna Barratin proves as endearing as ever with her girlish snarl of “… she will never regret” in the garage rock meets Morricone “Where Was He From” being a particular delight. Likewise, the quirky pseudo rockabilly of “Miss My Gun” bounces along merrily with Ms Barratin adopting an accented drawl that fits the groove perfectly and “I Need No One” is so cool and jaunty that it perfectly complements the serial killer style words of obsession.
The second side induces yet another smile or three. The cover of “I’m A Little Mixed Up” remains true to the original but adds an inspired and somewhat demented piano figure while “Disappear Chanell” turns out to be the kind of groovy little instrumental that any self-respecting garage rock should use to see out an album.
The pressing quality was fine but the sound quality less so with some curious midband distortion prevalent throughout and especially noticeable on the second side