When asked about the decision making process in the Bad Seeds, Blixa Bargeld suggested the democratic process is anathema to the creative process. “Democracy is too slow,” Bargeld bluntly remarked. In the context of Bargeld’s musings, the odds must surely be stacked against the 15-strong all-girl garage group The Rebelles.
But whether it’s the exception that proves the rule, or the consequence of having a clearly defined operating idea, The Rebelles’ debut album, Go! Rebelle! is a testament to the power of common purpose. You can hear it immediately in the Ramones meets Go-Gos numerical elegance of 1-2-3-4 Go! It’s again evident in the Shangri-Las spaghetti western beauty of Spanish Fitzroy, and in the album’s closing salvo, Go! Rebelle!Not A Chance is the best prom night rejection anthem since Julie Brown laid waste to a room full of cheerleaders, while you can detect some serious social commentary just beneath the humour of Bobby? or Johnny?
Stick around to be rewarded with some slick and stylish LA garage pop, courtesy of Here He Comes, The Shoo Wop Song, (You’re Gonna) Be My Pop and Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy (the latter featuring the irrepressible Mikelangelo). Danny’s Car transmogrifies Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm into a soda pop flavoured celebration of grrrl garage attitude; Baby Bye Bye is so sassy it buckles your bandy little knees in salivating admiration; and Lullagoodbye offers a velvet-clad and harmony-filled waltz into the night. This is one classy rock’n’roll band.
BY PATRICK EMERY
