During the time Joseph Rodriguez was driving a cab in New York City, he picked up a camera to document the gritty and incredible street life he saw on the job. It led to the fascinating and telling book TAXI: Journey Through My Windows 1977–1987, which now inspired (and provided the cover picture for) Amsterdam-based Beans & Fatback‘s new full-lengther Hold Fast, their first in ten years. Onno Smit and Paul Willemsen deliver eleven new tunes around themes of temptation, loss and perseverance, in which—as we are used to—unpolished garage rock and soulful blues (with a touch of glam) blend into an energetic and catchy sound. Earlier single Tight Ripped Jeans could have been a hit by The Black Keys (comparisons are less evident elsewhere), but actually all tunes are easier to embrace than the late 1970s New York post-punk on which this record builds. It is a soundtrack clinging to humanity through raw soundscapes in a controlled manner, matching the aforementioned photo book.

Hold Fast is out now on CD and vinyl LP through AT EASE.

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