Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By The Darts, Dirty Water Records 2022.
The Darts are an all-girl American garage/punk band who formed in 2016 to “make great garage noise, see the world, and have a fab slumber party every night .”
They are well on their way to achieving their goals although I can’t vouch for the slumber parties.
In the first six months of their existence they released two EPs and signed with Dirty Water Records in the UK, who released their first full length vinyl release Me.Ow.
Their energetic live act wowed London and they headed to Europe where they were equally as enthusiastically received.
Dirty Water Records combined their first two EPs into one self-titled album and they returned home to the US to promote it, including touring in support of The Living End and on a coast-to-coast tour with The Damned.
Since then, their starship has continued to soar.
They signed with Alternative Tentacles and released their third album, I Like You But Not Like That (2018) and even had some of their tracks feature in the Peaky Blinders TV series.
Rolling Stone took notice of them giving them a great review and they’ve gone on to perform on the legendary KEXP Sessions as well as recording their fourth full-length album, Snake Oil, which is due for release in early 2023.
Love Tsunami is a three track EP that’s available on 7” vinyl.
The title track opens the EP setting the tone for an up-tempo onslaught.
Love Tsunami sounds like the B-52s have gone punk.
It’s underpinned by a great melodic bass line and crashing rhythm guitars with spaced out synths.
There’s an edgy guitar solo that cuts through and frantic vocals to top it all off.
It’s followed by Shit Show which brings a change in tempo, at least to start with.
There’s a nice sparse opening that gives plenty a space for the vocals.
The chorus is a full on shit storm of energy
Underground brings us back to the high energy of the opening track.
Each track is a worthy single, these girls know what they’re doing.
They write catchy, no holds barred, songs that are wonderfully enticing.
If this EP is anything top go by it’d be great to be at one of their slumber parties.
