‘Suspicion‘ is the second serving from the latest batch of DATSUNS tunes, now ready to be dished up to the masses. Touching upon this present era of paranoia, the failure in the currency of words, what can be believed, what can be taken at face value anymore, the lies behind the lies. Propelled by an ambling, descending psychedelic zig zag of a riff, moored to the deck by the patented Datsun glam-tinged stomp, a mid-tempo crafted mystic vibe. The dry ice smoke and chrome mirror visuals beckon boldly.
“Born musically from the marriage of two very different sounding tracks. One of heavy fuzz riffs and a pounding danceable beat, the other: a spooky, reverb laden acoustic track. Somehow they merged together into a new kind of beast, one laid on top of the other. It’s pretty self explanatory lyrically. Exploring falling prey to suspicions, paranoia and cynicism in the post-truth world.” – Dolf Datsun
Seven years hath passed since the last release action from NewZild’s most noted crafters of classic (as in some of sort of ’70s-inspired grunge-metal meets garage) rock. And two whole decades are done and dusted since they took the Northern hemisphere by storm, leading the back-to-rock charge at the beginning of the millennium alongside The White Stripes and The Hives. That was when they scored a Peel Session and an NME cover; when they toured Europe and the States and headed back to hit Aus & NZ for the Big Day Out; when they played the main stage at Ozzfest and toured with Metallica. And while time has not stood still, it hasn’t slowed them down either – The Datsuns are now making the best music they’ve ever made.
Due May 28 on Hellsquad through MGM, and released on LP, CD and digital formats, forthcoming seventh album EYE TO EYE has a varied stylistic grasp across its 11 tunes. It wraps the locomotive chug of classic Ian Gillan/Ritchie Blackmore-helmed Deep Purple – seasoned nicely with generous servings of Jon Lord keyboard surge – to some updated glam space boogie power chordage. There there are some otherworldly fantastical floating melodies wafting in & out, and the guitar effects and greater keyboard dosage pepper the tunes with new flavours.
Let us not forget the contribution here of lead Datsun instrumentalist, Christian Livingstone, who has laboured intently, fine-tuning freaked fuzz frequencies and space-age squeal and a host of other soaring dogfighting & dive-bombing tones, for the instrumental breaks and beds of the album. If the tone and attack are the primary responsibilities Mr Livingstone bears, the dynamics and tempo rest in the mitts of them other Datsun three. Guitarist “Windmill” Phil Somervell brings his rhythmic chops & noted arm flailin’, to underscore the light & shade of the riffage; Ben “Poundin’ Soul” Cole machine guns the rolls, and hits the timing twists & turns when required; Master Dolf de Borst locks in his bass walkin’, & talkin’, stuttering & strutting preposterously on cue.
