Hoodoo Gurus
Blow Your Cool!

THE REVIEW

In that tiny fraction of human expression conventionally called rock, geniuses, inventors, innovators and so forth, are, as we know, a rare breed. When you take a closer look, there aren't many more of those who, without "making revolutions," and just by combining two or three elements of the matter, manage to jolt endorphins, serotonin and who knows what else, not only at the moment, but even "after," creating a sort of strange "retard" effect, that lights up randomly, even from a distance, as if tattooing mind and heart.

Dave Faulkner, born in 1958 from Perth, Australia, was someone who knew a lot about tattoos. His mom and dad had provided him with, besides a warm voice, a bit sly and conservatory tone, an extraordinary melodic sense; he then made use of this heritage by assembling, with musicians picked here and there, these Hoodoo Gurus in the early '80s Sydney. Genre? A prime power-pop, often with a proud garage stride but without the copy-paste effect of many contemporaries from the northern hemisphere. Quite energetic, sure, but also meticulously crafted and especially brushed with magnificent melodies. In the mid-decade USA college-radio, their albums and singles were spinning with delight, and hearing them, major labels were literally salivating. 

Today "aussi-rock" is more demodé than a pair of Clarks, but believe me, when "Blow Your Cool!" was released (Elektra/Chrysalis 1987, for the more finicky their third album), there were distinguished critics who called H.G. the "best rock'n roll band of the moment" and adjectives like "epochal" for the album were not scarce even years later. Perhaps they were exaggerating, but try shaking off the impeccable melody of "Out that Door" that Faulkner's lady-killer voice elevates for a good four minutes or resist the relentless loop of "In the Middle of the Land" (with then unionist S.Wynn on backing vocals) worthy of the best Replacements or that slew of rugged riffs maybe of just a couple of notes and stop ("Where Nowhere Is"), but those that others don't produce in a career and with harmony textbook counterpoints and frantic rhythms, create sparks in the tracks that close the two sides in pairs. If you want, you can also try not to be enchanted by the arcane atmosphere of "My Caravan," which seems to stretch a "Thin White Rope" between the Mojave desert and the dry highlands near Perth, but that would mean not wanting to be kind to yourself. Of course, the production is, compared to the past, a tad too polished, some electric solos are just slightly flashy, and on a couple of occasions, an excess honey trickle indeed drips from the grooves, but on the other hand, with the major labels, in exchange for sponsorship, something had to be conceded.

These are nonetheless mild side effects, generally well-tolerated and not compromising the essence of what is the best antidepressant ever produced by this ancient and (little) renowned specialized firm from the antipodes. It can be consumed in large quantities over long periods without addiction risks and even in conjunction with alcoholic drinks which, in fact, enhance its action. The beneficial and lasting effects on mood that result from it are, I take full responsibility, absolutely guaranteed.

(almost four)