Rhythm is rebellion. From the first blasts of rhythm and blues to the beat generation right up to acid house, the simple act of dancing has constantly been sidelined by society as an extreme act of defiance. On first hearing the sounds of electronic Detroit back in the 80’s, it sounded shocking. People are still shocked to this day by Can’s tight rhythmic Krautrock.
On the back of all this arrive !!! (pronounced chk chk chk), a band who’s very name looks like an act of defiance. Although they hail from Sacramento, most of them now live in New York, hence last year’s classic single “Me and Giuliani Down By The School Yard (A True Story)”, the song where the band blast off into wild funk in the great tradition of Talking Heads, Happy Mondays and Can while the singer blasts into New York’s draconian dancing laws. It all fits, the defiance of the dance. This album encapsulates all of the above. The rhythm, the rebel and rock ‘n’ roll. This is bloody essential. From the whigged out electronics of “King’s Weed” to the foul-mouthed funky freak-out of “Pardon My Freedom”, this album is bursting with attitude and invention.