Smoke & Mirrors by The Datsuns (CD, 2006)

V2 (USA)

5033197418421

26050184291

The Datsuns

CD

2006

Smoke & Mirrors

Oldies

37 mins 58 seconds

Personnel: Wendi Rose, Annette Bowen (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Nick Abbott; Cenzo Townshend. Recording information: Livingston Studio; Monnow Valley Studio. Illustrator: Nicky Deeley. Photographer: Jo McCaughey. This 2006 import (reissued stateside in 2008) concocts a fiery fusion of proto-punk, garage stomp, and slide-guitar blues. What separates these New Zealanders from most of their raw, garage-revivalist peers is their knack for melody. "Such A Pretty Curse" and "Blood Red" both draw their energy from catchy hooks. But elsewhere, "Emperor's New Clothes" and "Tiny Dlunder Stolen Thunder" go for straight-ahead gusto. There are even a couple of ragged, jangly ballads to balance out the affair, highlighted by album closer (and possible response/ode to The Rolling Stones) "Don't Shine Your Light On Me."

Q (p.140) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] craftily woven mixture of typical, turbo-charged punk such as 'System Overload' and more complex fare that reaches a peak with the startling closer 'Too Little Fire'..." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.47) - "Dolf Datsun's carnal holler leers like prime Robert Plant, while wailing girl-group backing singers crank the thrills even higher." Mojo (Publisher) (p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]heir forte remains unashamed headbanger action -- witness the high energy ramalama of 'Maximum Heartbreak'..."

MSI Music Distribution

Nick Abbott

Stereo

1

USA