The Surgens “Songs of Sadness, Misery and Abuse” (Fast and Bulbous Records, 2006).

Fasten your seatbelt for a rollercoaster ride of gutbucket twisted R’n’B.

The most surprising thing about this elemental slab of countrified rhythm and blooze is that the Surgens hail from the deep south of England but are steeped in hoodoo gumbo rockabilly sleaziness to an nth degree. Wearing their influences on their sleeves they nevertheless manage to conjure up a vital sounding set of mainly self penned songs that never fall into the revivalist or tribute band trap. A six piece band with a full bodied guitar sound augmented at times by lap steel, washboard, musical saw and vocals that at times recall David Thomas of Pere Ubu’s intensity they roar and prowl all over the blueprint drawn up by the likes of The Cramps, Thee Headcoats and Tav Falco.
There’s barely a duff track here, opener “Twisted Brain” is a testosterone fuelled Cramps like bloodfest, “my baby’s got a twisted brain, I found it hanging in a train, I put it in a bottle next to the others, I think I might be losing my way.” Dumb lyrics but the visceral delivery runs away with any litcrit notions. Next song “Mean Cheatin’ Man” continues in the same vein but the band stretches out and their command of dynamics is evident here with passages that lower the attack but retain an inherent menace. The album ends with their best song, “Drunken Angel,” a hymn to booze, dope and music that swaggers along in a fashion akin to Alex Harvey in his more burlesque moments, a debauched tango that closes what is an extremely handsome disc.

Date review added:  Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Reviewer:  Paul Kerr
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Band website