For his umpteenth release, the creepy, crawly surf master of The Barbarellatones, Robbie Quine, delivers a toned-down, darker version of his vision that still retains all the dry, silly humor we’ve come to know and love.
While packed with the expected heavy dose of surfabilly glam trash, Mummified! shows Quine’s growth as a songwriter. Elements of blues, folk and even country ooze into the mix, adding depth to his already eerily visceral world. Where “Donut Shop” nods to Scary Monsters-era Bowie, “Truckstop Angel” and the lustful “The Right Thing to Do” twang like The Rolling Stones, and the banjo in “Hippy Girl” transforms it into an alt-country ballad. “Feminine Products” sports some impressive lead guitar work, as well as the blues-y jaunt of “Pee Pee Cup.” It’s the latest statement from a songwriter whose passion for music takes hims wherever he wants to go.
Perhaps the most fun part of The Barbarellatones is their penchant for unpredictability. Each album has its own tone, mood and flavor, while also immediately recognizable as the work of Robbie Quine. We’ll see where he takes us next.
