This debut by
The Embrooks -- recorded on four-track analog equipment and produced by the band themselves -- was originally a vinyl-only release by the Dig the Fuzz label in April 1999. It was finally issued on compact disc by Dionysus in the U.S. a few months after their invigorating American debut, Our New Day, was released on the legendary Bomp! label's Voxx subsidiary, making this one seem like a stopgap measure until their proper follow-up. As this British trio is heavily rooted in the
freakbeat/mod rock sound circa 1966-1967, it might come as something of a surprise that this CD is a murky, scuzzy,
garage-sounding affair overall. A few highlights include their superb take on
The Outsiders' mournful,
folk/beat rave-up "Sun's Going Down" and "Fight Fire," previously recorded by the Fantastic Dee Jays (who had, in turn, covered the obscure original by
The Golliwogs, a pre-Creedence band fronted by the Fogerty brothers). Yet, despite the fact that most of the songs are amiably propelled along by Alessandro Cozzi-Lepri's blistering, fuzz-drenched guitars,
Mole's frenetic basslines,
Lois Tozer's manic drumming, and the group's combined Mersey-styled harmonies, what mostly ruins this outing is the poor recording quality, which is so swamped in reverb that there's audible distortion from the digital over-saturation. It makes for a very poor listen of an otherwise wonderful album, one that could have perhaps used an additional mixing-and-mastering session. The 14-track CD drops one track from the original LP, but includes two songs from their Sympathy for the Record Industry EP from 1998: "Where Were You?" and "Things Come Back to You," two tracks dating back to December 1996, just one month after the band formed. Another early recording, "But I Didn't Know Him" (originally issued as a limited-edition 7" single by Dig the Fuzz), is also included. ~ Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide
