It's all going Hammer & Tongs...

Coming hot on the heels of their recent single the Drumattic Twins are set to release new album Hammer & Tongs on the 1st June. Being a sneaky so and so I've had an advance listen and it's...as the kids would say...a belter. Kicking off with Don't Be So Drummattic (you remember...the one that sounded like it featured Jonny 5 from Short Circuit) the album takes in influences as diverse as the Middle East (Broken Planet) and Old Skool Euro house (the suitably titled Back To The Old School). Glow sticks ahoy. Any got any Veras? Sorted...etc...etc.

It's amazing how evocative all of that stuff still is. Without wishing to sound like a boring bastard the early days of what is generally lumped together as 'dance music' were incredibly exciting. Granted a lot of what followed become predicable and formulaic but the Drumattic Twins (who were Shades of Rhythm in a former life) have a knack for recapturing that feel good vibe. Away from the old skool influences the Twins aren't afraid to mix things up a bit though. The most experimental track on the album, Antique Vinyl (which almost sounds like an album on its own...there's so much going on in there) starts off all funky before breaking down into a strings backed female vocal number that's strangely moving. Shades of Gavin Bryars Jesus Blood. It's a surprising ending to a surprising album that sounds familiar but fresh all at the same time...which ain't an easy trick to pull. It's Hammer time...

Hammer & Tongs is out on June 1st on Finger Lickin' Records.