GUILTY
AS SIN - The Stoneage Hearts (Off
the Hip)
he Stoneage
Hearts return with their second long-player, this time with redoubtable Dom
Mariani in the ranks. The result's as good as anything coming out of the (cue:
hackneyed generic name) Garage right now, and lacks none 
of
the spontaneity of its predecessor.
While it's a pity to see Danny McDonald move on, the installation of The Big
D as his replacement is a welcome event. Mr Mariani would have been accorded
an exalted position in the Aussie underground music pantheon just on the strength
of his stuff with The Stems, let alone DM3. His latter-day work (his Mitch Easter-produced
solo album "Homespun Blues and Greens" and the surf-instro grooves
of Majestic Kelp) are a little restrained, so it's a no-brainer that "Guilty
As Sin" will be hailed as a return to his rockier roots.
That's a valid point but the Stoneage Hearts aren't a Dom solo band. It's blessed
with his distinctive voice and underrated guitar but a third of the tunes are
sung by hirsutely-blessed bassist Ian Wettenhall (Hand of Time, ex-Seminal Rats,
Freeloaders). Wettenhall's edgy vocals gave the earlier album it's crusty edge,
and does likewise here on a song like "Fussy Garbos". Drummer Mickster
Baty (Crusaders, Finkers, Pyramidiacs) contributes the usual steady-as-a-rock
work behind the traps and a co-write with Wettenhall that's a ripper. There's
an oh-so-obvious nod to Spencer Davis in that song, "Your Greed",
but a wonderful Mariani vocal stamps it as the Hearts' own and the playing makes
it one of the stand-outs on the album. Listen up for "Green With Envy"
and "Trouble Girl", two Mariani gems. Occasional keyboards (Ash Naylor
and Ernie O) fill out the sound in all the right places.
These are simple, sometimes derivative but almost always killer songs that sit
very much in the mould of the antecedents of both Mariani and Wettenhall. The
latter's "Fussy Garbos" dates from Freeloaders days, and there's a
lot of The Stems here, naturally enough, albeit with the odd lyrical twist of
the knife ("Trouble Girl", "Sick of you") adding an edge.
The Creation's "Biff Bang Pow" is a nice inclusion as the sole cover,
making that band, the Music Machine and the Sonics obvious reference points.
Sixities-flavour
garage bands are a dime a dozen, but exceptional ones are a lot thinner on the
ground. The Stoneage Hearts don't push into new territories, but that's not
the point. Theirs' is the sound of three vets with a genuine love of good music
coded into their DNA. If you share that affection, a great listening time is
guaranteed. - The Barman
TURN
ON WITH THE STONEAGE HEARTS - The Stoneage Hearts (Off
the Hip)
Spontaneity is a wonderful thing in rock 'n' roll and this disc absolutely
drips it. No wonder. It was recorded over the term of the first three rehearsals
of what's a veritable Melbourne garage supergroup (hate that term, but...) It's
rough and ready but that's not to say it's sloppy. More like "fresh and
unforced" - and easily the best Australian release of the year so far.
The Stoneage Hearts are rural Victorian powerpopster Danny McDonald (P76, ex-Jericho)
on vocals and guitar, Ian Wettenhall (Hands of Time, ex-Seminal Rats and Freeloaders)
on bass, backing vocals and organ, and Mickster Batty (Finkers, ex-Crusaders
and Pyramidiacs) on the traps. If the antecedents and current crimes of these
three don't interest you, well, get out of the Bar. All those bands are obvious
reference points, but they only tell part of the story. This is spirited, hook-laden
garage pop that borrows liberally but charts its own path, with seven of the
11 songs originals.
"Out Side" is Stems-like pop, driven by swirling organ. "185
Gipps" sees Ian Wettenhall step up to the microphone to take the lead vocals
and ups the stakes considerably on the tough meter. "Kimberly" is
the part three of "Leilani" that the Gurus probably wrote but never
released and lacks only handclaps. Vocally, Danny McDonald might have a pop
heart but "Two Timin' Gurl" is him surfing on a sea of snot (with
a wave to the Crusaders as he passes by), hanging ten.
The Hearts must have been digging deep into one of their record collections
to come up with a copy of "Stranded on a Dateless Night" to cover,
(originally written by Cordell Jackson in the '50s, covered by rockabilly combo
Alen Page with the Deltones in '58 and more recently revived by the Nomads).
This version suffers from vocals that are buried way too deep, but is an honourable
stab. Overall, there aren't many false steps and when the Stoneage Hearts pick
a cover, they make it a good 'un and do it justice (I'm thinking "Son of
a Houndog Man" with its flailing harp). The entire package is bookended
by two memorable originals (the wistful-yet-tough R & B of "Wish You
Were Mine" and the rocking fade-in and fade-out of "Long Way to Your
Heart").
Some of the production is a little lo-fi - but who gives a rat's? That's actually
a PLUS with some discs (this being a prime example). Big production could have
robbed the album of some of its warmth (I'm shaking my head about the Mooney
Suzuki's "People Get Ready" after hearing their early self-released
demos.) Play it loud and you won't notice (it'll even sound WARM), but just
grab a copy. Oh, and it's the debut label release for people that bring you
"Off the Hip" magazine - so were you expecting a dud? - The
Barman
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