2023-09-13 07:00:17
(c) Salome Teufel
The retro chic of The Alligator Wine finally finds a sequel. One would actually like to dismiss the duo line-up and its instrumental limitations – no guitar, no bass, instead organ, Moog and synthesizer – as a gimmick, but the vintage rock sound of the men from the Black Forest is more than sublime. For the successor to “Demons Of The Mind” there is a new label home and sophisticated songwriting, which should hardly be surprising given almost three and a half years since the last record. „Bones And Teeth“ clears away.
In purely quantitative terms, Roberto Vitacca and Thomas Teufel are a bit stingy. Seven songs in 28 minutes add spice to the proverbial brevity, because despite the scythe photo, there is absolutely no such thing as waste. The opening “Powers Of Love” already lets the mood boil over, turning the dial wonderfully and heading towards powerful melodies, lots of groove and some psychedelic underbelly. The tension between erratic explosiveness and skilfully used heaviness crowns the action, smaller breakdowns provide the necessary spice.
“Harlequin Moon” is playful and wicked, seems to go to a club full of shady characters, only to find yourself stuck with your forehead on the filthy bar following four drinks. And yet there is a certain lightness, a buoyancy regarding the action that dances through the scenery even in the most depressive moment. In “Anyone” the electronics are quite good, falsetto and disco chic know how to entertain and lack a slightly strange, highly entertaining touch. And then there’s the long, plodding finish “The One Who Knocks.” The Alligator Wine pick up the pace, fight their way through the fog and transform bluesy elements into anthemic loops. The final act in particular is impossible to get out of your head.
It may be that this second release comes with a very short playing time, but there is a repeat button for such cases, for which there is definitely no pause here. “Bones And Teeth” follows on seamlessly from previous releases. Of course, the action alone is out of the ordinary because of the instrumental line-up, but that is precisely where the appeal lies. The Alligator Wine use this as an opportunity to subvert expectations and present classically inspired songs in a different way. This works even better on the second album because the songwriting seems worlds more well-rehearsed, because you dare more, because creative freedom takes the reins. This is how vintage has to be.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: September 15, 2023
Available via: Supreme Chaos Records
Website: www.thealligatorwine.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thealligatorwine
Category: Magazin, Reviews
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