The Slow Slushy Boys - Whelk Time!

(This review first appeared in issue #66 of Shindig! magazine.)

Larsen LP

Slow and slushy by name, not by nature. This French band have helped popularise revivalist beat music not only by the many sides they've released since their 1990 debut, but also via Larsen, the record label and magazine started by the band's leader Denis Oliverès. This collection collates the best of the band's releases from 1994-97, twelve tracks previously only available on limited-run 7” singles and 10” LPs. Firmly rooted in hip-shaking garage-y R&B, the band pay homage to their inspirations with covers of The Real Kids ('Do The Boob'), The Sevens ('Seven'), Shindiggers ('Say You Will') and Dutch band The Outsiders ('Won't You Listen'). The original tracks are equally as taut and snappy and contain a contender for the best song title ever with 'Can The Poseur Do The Whelk?'

With ace sleeve notes by Shindig!'s own Lenny Helsing this is a fine introduction for uninitiated toe-dippers and a handy collection for long-time fans.

Bananas Magazine - Issue #7 Out Now!

Get inky! Latest issue of New York 'zine will fulfill all your garage, punk & psych needs.


One of the most endearing facts about the garage rock scene is that although it's small, it's a dedicated, supportive, global community. The latest issue of Bananas Magazine is evidence of that. Issue #7 of the New York based garage 'zine has features on Spain's Purple Weekend Festival, Germany's Screaming Apple record label, Russian and Italian garage scenes, along with an excellent interview with Belgian artist Robin Renard.

There's also interviews with The Eeries (Philadelphia), The Othermen (NYC), The Thunderbeats (Moscow), Le Kid & Les Marinelli (Montreal), The High Learys (Perth), and The Mentalettes (all over the place). If that's not enough check out the vinyl-heavy reviews section for all that's hot in the garage punk scene right now.

Perhaps my favourite feature though is Todd's Tabs, a guitar tutorial which in this issue fittingly centres on '60s Swiss garage legends The Sevens. Hell, it makes me want to go and dust down my old Teisco right now!

Bananas Magazine is free where available, though if you can't find one in your local store just pay for the postage and order online from their website. Year old issues are available to read online too, whaddya waitin' for?!

www.bananasmag.com