The reaction to Scratch That Itch on the current Listening To This Week didn't surprise me. What did was how many didn't know who Benny was. The Rinehearts front man is an Oz legend and a long time key player in the Perth scene.
18 months or so ago, Ward started to release singles, 8 in all to the point of the album release. These and 3 others are gathered on this debut solo album. It is a lo-fi joy, a little like a history of Power Pop, although largely feeling very 60s UK and Garage Beat.
Self recorded, faithfully so, it underlines what a fine songwriter the man is and how he mines his influences. TELEVISIONS! is deliciously UK New Wave, but also gets a little left field instrumentally. Tell Me Tell Me is ace Garage Rock with big hints of Jangle and Twang.
Ice cream Headache is a crackerjack of a song. A real all together now affair on the chorus. It mixes a Rock and Roll feel to Garage Psych Pop wonderfully. Back To Bed enters Jangle Pop and Flight Of The Navigator is top notch UK Beat with a Glam Rock Drum stop.
I Didn't Mean It was made to be performed at a Speak Easy and Nest In Your Head is splendid Psych that matches anything around now. It is my favourite thing here, but many of you know how much of a sucker I am for this type of stuff.
There is an interesting cover of I Only Wanna Be With You, more like The Tourists than Dusty Springfield, but rocked and jangled up beautifully. Super! is a great listen and you do wonder why it has taken Ward this long to release a solo album because this is great.
You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download. The CD is on the Kool Kat label and can also be purchased here.
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