This is the 2nd single from The Missing Souls, this time on the fabulous US label Hidden Volume Records. What we have here are another two choice stompers from one of the hottest garage bands around at the moment; and it's a well earned title. ‘Gotta Have Your Lovin’' originally by Oscar & The Majestics is a monumental ‘60s garage classic. I mean, it really is. When I first heard The Missing Souls perform this cover, in a small French bistro as part of the 2015 Cosmic Trip Festival, I was gobsmacked for two reasons; 1) their choice of covers and 2) at the exuberance and intensity with which they performed. It was a pure and unadulterated celebration of the more obscure ‘60s garage classics. But be warned, don’t let the fact that these are covers distract you. These are their versions thereof, and they OWN it. The sound is live, raw, and captures the energy and urgency of the original, maybe even supersedes it. Boogaloo.

Flipside 'You Ain’t Tuff Baby' is the most. I know of a couple of versions from ‘66 by Lindy Blaskey & The Lavells, and The Uniques but again they put their own stamp (or stomp) on this by adding some space noises - along with some cool, cool organ.  

Garage Punk is dead, long live Garage Punk! 

Available from Hidden Volume Records FIRST 100 copies sold will be on 'milky clear' vinyl and include a hot Missing Souls mini poster! Served up in a heavy duty Stoughton tip-on jacket designed by X10 and custom jukebox styled download card.

(COLORED VINYL IS SOLD OUT 25/1/16) 

Includes unlimited streaming of 'Got To Have Your Lovin'' via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more... 

Johnny Moped as it turns out, are quite an enigma.

It’s been no less than 38 years since their debut album Cycledelic came out (and get this, the publishers of The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, named Cycledelic as one of the best fifty punk albums of all-time) the three original members of the band: Johnny Moped, Slimy Toad and Dave Berk are back with a new long player.

The press release advises that it’s 16 new songs and a few live favourites that were never recorded back in the day. This follows their first 7” for 37 years released on Damaged Goods last year - ‘Ain’t No Rock N’ Roll Rookie' impressively hit no. 3 in the UK vinyl chart.

As the album kicks in I’m quite taken aback. It actually sounds quite good. I really had no expectations whatsoever; as although I’ve been aware of Johnny Moped for a long time, I’ve never been that bothered to listen to them until this landed in my email box from the lovely Damaged Goods.

Opening track ‘It’s A Real Cool Baby’ is spot on, and definitely the standout track. Reminiscent in parts of The Saints, Radio Birdman and Turbonegro; all driving guitars and attitude. Therein follows a bunch of other songs of the old skool punk variety, that to be honest kinda pass me by until ‘Paint My Aubergine’ which is odd, melodic, and bordering on psychedelic. There’s definitely not a lack of humour, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, nothing else really grabs me, and I found myself doing some domestic chores throughout. As much as I want to like this LP, I feel it lacks energy. It’s very well produced for sure, and if this kinda punk / indie rock floats your boat, then you may be in for a treat. Don’t let me put you off.

A second single ‘Real Cool Baby’ is due out late January in two different vinyl colours.

Johnny Moped will be hitting the road in April for an album launch show at the Lexington in London with more dates in the UK and Europe to follow.

It's A Real Cool Baby is available from amazon.