Just when you thought the guitar/drums duo thing was done, Northern CA’s Bam!Bam! smacks the back of your head in defiance.
Zola Bam and Chloe Bam‘s sound is heavily derived from the early ’90s K Records sound, though played with the exuberant naiveté of The Shaggs. The opening title track offers a sinister garage guitar line that snakes around the bombastic drumming, punctuated by bits of dark psychedelia. The result is a cross between Partyline and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators. The central two tracks, “Something Awful” and “Out the Window,” display the duo’s dynamic range with some melodies and harmonies. Finally, “Medicine” closes things out with an appearance by K Records’ own Calvin Johnson, who intones Michael McDonald-like background vocals in his signature froggy crooning.
It’s the excitement of being in a band, loving every practice, every wrong note, every show, every argument and loving it so much you never want to do anything else. Somehow, Bam!Bam! have perfectly captured that feeling in a simple recording. Well done, ladies.
