Blues Explosion ‘Damage’ (Mute Records)

The (former Jon Spencer’s) Blues Explosion have been playing the blues since the early mid-nineties, but not your standard 12 bar, self pitying nonsense. They aren’t called the Explosion for nothing. Pioneering the style of playing guitars so loud that you don’t actually need a bass, this three piece is led by Jon Spencer who has been credited as having a ‘vacuum cleaning guitar’ and who has obviously had a recent crisis of conscience about whose band it actually is.

Damage is the band’s seventh album and reportedly one of the biggest projects they have undertaken. Making full use of five studios and team of producers including DJ Shadow and David Holmes, this record is so low-down and dirty that you’d give it £2 if you passed it in the street. This is blues expertly fused with gospel, funk, more blues, drum & bass and a healthy dose of democrat politics delivered alongside some cool people like Martina Topley Bird and Public Enemy’s Chuck D.

This is a very good record with a variety in the tracks that come from using several producers but keeping a close eye on them to ensure that the overall effect is constant. The sensuous and evocative ‘Spoiled’ for example sits perfectly next to the funked up ‘Crunchy’ whose buzzing guitars are, to be honest, buzzy to perfection.

The Blues Explosion’s 13 year long career has given the time they needed to gain respect from all musical quarters and this album is tribute to that. Jon ‘Suave as Fuck’ Spencer appears to be the charismatic all rounder in blue jeans and dedicated to his particular choice of career. Listening to this record, you just know that this band would kick arse live and whether or not you think the blues is for another generation, you will at least appreciate that this is real music played by real professionals.

words: Robin Harris

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