New album: The Routes || The Twang Machine

Japan-based underground garage outfit The Routes are on a roll. Last year the three-piece released no fewer than three albums, and here is yet another full-length. “Whether you see it as musical blasphemy or musical alchemy, this album is set to become a cult classic, destined to irk or jerk future generations for years to come,” the press release promises. Chris Jack (guitar, bass, percussion), Bryan Styles (bass) and Toru Nishimuta (bass), with special guest Katsuhiko Matsusue (organ), have dared to transform ten classics by Kraftwerk into pretty cool instrumental surf rock crackers. Earlier Messer Chups showed with a single cover song that this idea can turn out well, but The Routes prove that you can’t have enough of such a sound even after 34 minutes. Very well done, The Twang Machine is a worthy tribute to the German electronic music pioneers, for fans of mid-60s rock ‘n’ roll.

The Twang Machine is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Double Crown Records and Otitis Media Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Otitis (US) || Soundflat (Europe)