Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By The Datsuns, Music On Cassette 2021.
Over recent years there has been a growing movement amongst some young musicians around the world looking for a return to a time when playing and recording was a more spontaneous process.
They strive for the sound and warmth of analogue and many small-scale labels have sprung up to support their passion.
Some of these labels could no longer be classified as small and they have gone on to become very influential.
Dirty water Records in the UK is a case in point; they have now expanded their operations by signing deals with like-minded labels in the USA and Europe and the list of artists that have recorded in their analogue studios includes many artists who have broken into the mainstream and received substantial radio airplay.
The Datsuns are a Netherlands based rock band who produce a powerful rock sound that places them as direct descendants of the British led hard rock school made famous by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
Their compositions are characterised by power chords and monumental guitar riffs with the classic line-up of guitars, bass, drums and keyboards.
Eye To Eye has been released by Netherlands based Music On Cassette, a recording company that is 100 per cent dedicated to releasing analogue recorded music only on audio cassette.
The company believes in the power of analogue recording and they dream of a day when cassettes will once be again available in your local record store.
If the company keep recording bands as good as The Datsuns they might just bring their dream to reality.
This eleven-track album is very good and I encourage all heavy rock enthusiasts to give it a listen, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Music On Cassette does not offer digital downloads for the album, you have to purchase the cassette, but Bandcamp offers the digital album.
I rate Eye To Eye as one of the best rock albums I’ve listened to this year.
