The Raveonettes
Chain Gang Of Love

THE REVIEW

Revival is the key word. And that's because, since the release in 2001 of the beautiful "Is This It" by New York's Strokes, tribute bands to the legendary '70s have multiplied: Hives, Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Jet are just a few of the groups that, with a mix of catchy garage and rock 'n' roll, have defined the trend of the moment, although in some cases, falling into banal and lackluster albums (see "Room On Fire" by the aforementioned Strokes).

The Raveonettes, aka Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, a duo from Copenhagen, could be placed along the same lines, who, with the usual elements and absolutely vintage instrumentation, released in 2003, one year after "Whip It On", their second work, "Chain Gang Of Love". And the result is definitely pleasant: 13 tracks between garage, danceable rock 'n' roll and some nice novelties, like "Noisy Summer", a slow piece closer to a certain noise-pop than the usual mix proposed by various pseudo-revival formations of today. Sure, one could criticize a certain brevity of it all (33 minutes are, indeed, a bit few...), but when listening to gripping tracks like "Love Can Destroy", the jewel "Heartbreak Stroll" and "New York Was Great", one cannot help but praise the work of the Danish duo, who undoubtedly stands out in the chaos of record releases.

Congratulations to the Raveonettes, therefore, for an honest album, certainly not a masterpiece, but still well-crafted and undoubtedly above the average we are normally accustomed to.