A Blast Of Volage To Heal The Heart

French garage psychers Volage have whipped up a heady brew for their album Heart Healing (out now through Howling Banana Records - get it here). What I really enjoy about the four-piece is the indebtedness to the janglier moments of 60s garage, yet with an underlying modern sheen and a wonky quirk thrown into the mix Heart Healing is a rollicking, joyous ride. You can rifle through your comparisons bag and pull out many a fitting parallel/crib. 'Loner', however, is a glam-tinged behemoth that nevertheless roars forth for seven minutes, refusing to space out and glide, instead letting the glitter-stained sweat fly. 'This Ain't A Walk' follows in the same vein. Heart Healing has that woozy theatricality of Led Zep/Ty Segall, the pop eccentricity and warmth of the Kinks, the pastoral whimsy of the Byrds... But it is none of these things either. Just get in.

Howlin' Banana Raises Maddie's Kaviar Special To The Skies...

A French label called Howlin Banana, pushing garage rock? Well, I've heard of weirder things. The record crew have some great releases there, and Ill trawl through them over the next few weeks. The two I've been digging though have been from Parisian garage pop slackers Volage and Loose Rennes natives Kaviar Special.

Volage have crammed a lot of vibrating old-school tunes into one small release with their Maddie 10" EP. Favourite track: 'Many Hopes'. But the psychedelic flower pop with a grungey edge of 'Im A Fool' and 'Heart Healing (Take 1)' is a lot of fun, whilst 'Bob Is Alive' is tub thumping from the darkest recesses of a cartoonish Hell, with Volage stripped of graces, airs and souls as they play the support slot for the Cramps. Love this, even if it proves a little schizophrenic. But that's what EPs are for. Bring on the album.

Kaviar Special are up to that stage, bringing out their self-titled LP (also on Azbin Records), and it's some raucous, stupid garage rock fun. I really enjoy this kind of music when out on the booze, and these guys could easily fuel my night. It's pretty straight up in its offerings - songs don't tend to stick out as much, so when one does (like 'Ptit Cul') it feels like it's something probably less special than you think. That sounds like a diss, and it isn't meant to be - these is consistent breakneck fare that is young, dumb and full of...poison cake? The LP is sold out as far as I can tell, which is very unfortunate for most - but I have one, so that's all that matters...