Rating: NNN
A Ramones count-off coupled with the grainy microphone treatment on lead singer Akira Alemany’s vocals on My Baby Says Boy, Don’t You Ever Go, lets you know straight away that local uptempo dance-rock unit Modernboys Moderngirls are trying to replicate the live energy of their shows on this debut long-player.
As you’d expect, the front end is loaded with their more raucous tunes, as Alemany and co-vocalist/organist Aimee Mazzuca go back and forth with verses over spiky guitar strokes, then reunite on the chorus. Mostly they connect (Where’s Your Boyfriend), but when they don’t it’s distracting (Leave The Army, Lose Completely). The gem of the disc, just after the midway point, is the heartfelt and affecting A Hammond Organ Singing, which builds with a slow burn before cascading into a smouldering finish.
Modernboys Moderngirls launch their CD at Wrongbar tonight (Thursday, June 26).