The formula of minimalist garage rock is starting to lose some of its appeal after a few successful years. The White Stripes, the forerunners of the genre, already shifted the emphasis on Get Behind Me Satan ('05) from the guitar to the marimba. The Danish two-man band The Raveonettes showed themselves on their debut album The Chain Gang Of Love as straight in the garage, but surprised on their
… second album with more atmospheric, tighter arranged pieces. The music is situated between the echoing 'wall of sound' of Phil Spector (whose ex-wife Ronnie Spector appears as a guest), surf music, new wave and the monotonous guitar sounds of Velvet Underground (of which drummer Moe Tucker plays). The uncontrolled wildness of the debut has been exchanged for atmosphere and subcutaneous tension. But in the end, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo mainly impress as conceptualists, who manage to reach the pinnacle of 'cool' with a sophisticated combination of the right music, image and guest musicians. (MS)more
