It's hard to know how to judge 'Preacher Blues', Le Skeleton Band’s first full-length album. As the name suggests, they are a group of French guys, who mostly sing in French and their music definitely has an air of the thoughtfulness and intelligence that you might, perhaps, imagine is a prerequisite for any self-respecting Frenchmen. In a word, its all a bit foreign to the British listener.
Nevertheless, several reassuring influences become apparent with closer listening: the influence of Tom Waits' sparse garage-jazz sound is clear, and at times the vocals recall his dulcet tones; the folk-punk intricacies of the Violent Femmes begin to emerge as a significant feature; and the fractured art-rock sounds of psycho-billy band The Dead Brothers give the album a volatility which is cathartic.
The album is packed full of great musicianship, and the songs, which could by no means be described as ‘pop’, will reward repeated listens, particularly, I imagine, if you speak French.
Download: L’Automme
Score: 7/10
For Fans of: Violent Femmes, The Dead Brothers, Tom Waits
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