LITTLE BARRIE – KING OF THE WAVES

The clue is the name with this London trio’s third studio album. The opening Surf Hell erupts in a bombastic flurry of surf rock fuzz that would send the old long-boarders and their Beach Boys records packing to the next beach along without a word. Exactly what that beach might be is a moot point, as these three lads (originally from Nottinghamshire) can’t have had a whole lot of classic beach time between them during their landlocked upbringing. Nevertheless King Of The Waves is a surf album, and a good one at that, albeit with tinges of Cream mixed in for good measure. The raucous ‘60s production style is used purposefully and without gratuity – the percussive guitar riffs and cardboard drum grooves are soaked liberally, but responsibly in the frenetic and bluesy Does The Halo Rust, bringing to mind the latest efforts of Sweden’s own unlikely punky surf-rockers Peter Björn and John. Amid the mellow rockabilly of Dream To Live it becomes clear that the energetic trio have left the charming fuzzy pop/mod/blues of their first single, 2005’s Free Salute, far behind in a mist of salty sea spray. Surf’s up and Little Barrie are there with the best of them.

***1/2