Thankfully you should never judge a book by it’s cover otherwise Portuguese Hard Rockers Affäire ‘s debut for Perris Records might have passed me by having, as it does, a cover that looks like it took a couple of minutes to mock up and suggests that the band might be a mash of Metal and Punk. What saved it from the hundreds of submissions we get that don’t make it out of the inbox and get a listen was the fact that I thought “you know what I don’t think I can name another Hard Rock band from Portugal”…
On the basis of the nine tracks here though I’m rather glad I had a listen. Opening track ‘Paradise Cafe’ sounds somewhere between the Quireboys and The Sunset Strip, and the keys and backing vocals give the song a really cool Rock and Roll vibe.
Recorded at the Dynamix Studio in Lisbon, and mastered in L.A. by engineer Phil Brewster (Sebastian Bach, The Darkness, Halestorm, Red Hot Chili Peppers) the album sounds nice and sleazy, and the cowbell says all you need to know about where these guys see themselves. While tracks like ‘Girl’s Nite Out’ don’t break any new ground I’d happily listen to music like this all night and in truth if your heart lies in the 80’s there’s nothing here you won;t like.
When they really push though, things get even more special: ‘Nasty But True’ is probably pick of the bunch showcasing, as it does, both a band that’s tight as hell and a vocalist who has some serious pipes: it’s the most shameless 80’s Glam Rocker here and all the better for it!
Add to that the Loverboy via Cherry Bombs like Groove of ‘Wild Romance’; the red hot rock raised fist of ‘Unsung Heroes (2 Good 4 Hollywood);’ the Sleazy fun of closer ‘Japanese Teaze ’89’ and the more than competent ballad ‘Sidewalk to a Red Light’ and you have a rather nice collection, even if at nine tracks it feels a little light. I for one will be tracking down their other music – 2015’s debut album ‘At First Sight’ and 2017’s ‘Neon Gods’ EP.
Band: D. D. Mike – Lead Vocals | Rick Rivotti – Guitars & Backing Vocals | Tawny Rawk – Bass & Backing Vocals | J.P. Costanza – Drums & Backing Vocals
Tracks: 01. Paradise Café | 02. Girls Nite Out | 03. Southbay Blues | 04. Nasty but True | 05. Wild Romance | 06. Sidewalk to a Red Light | 07. Unsung Heroes (2 Good 4 Hollywood) | 08. Breaking Point } 09. Japanese Teaze ‘89
Check them out at: facebook.com/affairerocks