This age is that of rock’n’roll, as it’s probably never been before….apparently. But one must distinguish between one rock’n’roll and anotherthat is H&MTV rock and the other one, this one is of real interest to us. This rock, had several names in France between 1993 en 1999: Drive Blind, Condense, Sleeppers, Deity Guns, Double Nelson, Portobello Bones, Basement, Dèche d’en Face, Kill The Thrill, Davy Jones Locker, Well Spottedand many other ones. It was doubtlessly underground, but hardy, eclectic, and high-quality stuff nonetheless. Some of the above-named bands have lasted and keep on resisting to standardisation, but only a few of them have stridden the bridge of the 80’s, and for a while, the spring had dried up.
But we’ve now attended a new underground restlessness for a couple of years: Café Flesh, Marvin, Ned, We Insist !, Chevreuil, Overmars, Death to Pigs, Binaire, Marypoppers and of course other bands have restored letters patent of nobility to a diversified, first-rate, and true no-compromise french rock’n’roll.For my hybrid belongs to these bands that work hard and finally give birth in pain to high-grade records. The band, born in a little hole at the back of beyond somewhere in the Vosges, is now based in Nancy, and gathers 4 experienced musicians who passionately perform a wild, dirty, intense and raw rock’n’roll, which could be filed as noisy.
The band was grounded on either 2001 or 2002 – none of the guys do exactly remember – the quartet released last year its self-produced magnum opus, namely "Highway 88 revisited" (no need to mention the reference to Bob Dylan, 88 being the figure associated to the Vosges in France). 9 tunes that hit you like as many uppercuts, though having been recorded live with absolutely no overdub.which resulted in a strained, ready-to-explode piece of work. According to those guys, a good rock’n’roll record is “one that leaves you exhausted after having listened to it, whereas you haven’t even moved from your seat”. And from that point of view they plainly succeeded in reaching their goal: Tunes such as“Heroes in Leather”, “Rock your Body” “True Punks do Dance Music” are irresistible and unstoppable shots. These guys have assimilated all that requires to be:Shellac, Jesus Lizard, John Spencer, as well as the Who or the Cramps. Finally, regardless to their ascendance lines or references, they most of all have a unique personality and show a permanent mastery of their art: first, a singer being able to sing as the smoothest crooner and yell as the most hysterical lunatic would do, then a guitar-player who appears to be an expert in controlling the skids of his instrument, a never-tired rythm-pair and above all, a real composing talent from the beginning to the end of this first CD. They clearly aim to an optimal efficacy using their assets: no interest for any kind of standard requirements and the art of being fully structured while not immediately sounding so. The guys are no beginners since they respectively belonged or still belong to several & diverse local bands. After having released“Highway 88 revisited”, they have been performing over thirty gigs and have just won the final contest of the Eurockeennes.For my Hybrid will therefore to be seen on the “Loggia” stage during the famous festival in Belfort. That gig will probably be a good opportunity for them to play for a wider audience, to share their vision of rock’n’roll, that is, as it is above-mentioned, a no-compromise music, as it should definitely and always be. You’ll hear from this band
By Olivier Drago / NOISE MAG
