Album Review: James Williamson & Deniz Tek - "Two To One"

 

And so we find ourselves in the presence of garage rock royalty here on Nite Songs as this album sees latter day Stooges guitarist James Williamson joining forces with fellow Detroit native and Radio Birdman six-stringer Deniz Tek. From the Dollsy opening swagger of Jetpack Nightmare, you can tell that both of them are on good form here with the pounding drums and spiralling riff combining to devastating effect.

From thereon in, Two To One keeps up the pace throughout and doesn't disappoint with the pure rock 'n' roll gasoline shots of Progress and Good As Gone (reminiscent of the Plimsouls' classic Million Miles Away) showing off both mens' chops nicely. The key is that while both Williamson and Tek are undoubtedly talented guitarists, both of them know when to rein this in so that the riffs hit home perfectly and the whole thing never goes into fret-wanking self-indulgence. If you want proof, just listen to the chugging riff on Stable which sounds like the bastard lovechild of the Stooges' TV Eye and the Kinks' You Really Got Me - great stuff. There's just the one slight red light with the slightly sluggish Take A Look Around but that's easily forgiven when you consider that this album also contains pure adrenalin shots like Climate Change, the Barracudas-esque Birthday Present and the soaring Another Girl Another Planet soundalike Liar.

The sinister chugging No Dreams and the Velvets style Melissa Blue add a bit of extra variety to sign this one off in good style. Essentially Two To One is everything you'd want from a collaboration between these two guitar legends and then some. Compact, solid and chock full of arse-kicking rock 'n' roll, this is a real riot.

Bandcamp link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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