On this their third album, Glasgow based Le Reno Amps let rip with a powerful, short set of songs that are strong on melody and played with a turbo charged intensity that at times merges the ferocity of shockabilly bands with the reinvention of alt-country as purveyed by the likes of Uncle Tupelo. With a full on sound referencing surf guitar, Townshend art attack and vocals that remain just this side of punk DIY, the album is a romp from start to finish.
They gallop out of the gates with their current single "Outlaws." A massive cowboy riff with gargantuan guitar is Dick Dale meets Rawhide while the solo is Morse code feedback à la The Who. Lifting to a frenzied crescendo vocally and instrumentally, this is a great opener.
"If You Want a Lover" which follows starts as a perky strum before picking up steam in the engine room. Again there is a big beefy guitar sound and thrusting bass. This is a corker from start to finish. After this tremendous one-two starter the rest of the album struggles to keep up. However there are several other moments that stand out. "You Do Your Thing" is a frantic dash that doesn't stop to catch breath. On "The Stand Off" muscular bass and guitar explode in an angular burst of frustration, heaps better than the latest Franz Ferdinand. With an excellent freak out towards the end and soaring solos this is the shape of guitar pop today. It segues into "Body," a superb miniature of a lost soul despairing with a hypnotic drone" while Send Me on My Way" is a great little countryish romp seasoned with pedal steel.
With a bright, jump from the speakers, sound, this album is a full-blooded challenge to the more established popmeisters who have troubled the indie press of late and can be safely recommended.