The Gilded Bats "The Gilded Bats" (Mud Dauber 2007)

Strong old-time revival fails to draw the future

Old-time music works best as dance music. Indeed, it has a hypnotic thrum in common with the modern electronic forms which seems determined to provoke a physical response. Preferably in this case, the stomping of feet, although both varieties have been known to elicit a quite different reaction. The Gilded Bats certainly supply this energy and enough grit to prevent their recreation of an essentially historic genre from sounding too polite or like a mere museum piece.

The principle problem with this album, however, is that it presents nothing particularly distinctive or original. Whilst the picking is solid, you could imagine it being the work of any group of old-time revivalists. There is little that is unique to the Gilded Bats. It might be argued that the provision of novelty is scarcely in the remit of the old-time genre but bands such as Uncle Earl demonstrate how it’s possible to capture something fresh without compromising authenticity.

This should not sound too harsh. We must be thankful that new blood is still attracted to this music and keeping it alive. Whilst they might not bring anything new to the table, the Gilded Bats play with the requisite passion and the album is at least never dull. The material will doubtless go down a storm live, which is, after all, the natural environment for such music. And a band with the guile to cover the Holy Modal Rounders is certainly doing something right.

Date review added:  Friday, December 21, 2007
Reviewer:  Kai Roberts
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Myspace