The Electrics - Old, New, Borrowed & Green

Published Friday 29th July 2005
The Electrics - Old, New, Borrowed & Green
The Electrics - Old, New, Borrowed & Green

STYLE: Celtic
RATING 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 12633-1905
LABEL: Independent
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The Electrics describe themselves as "a sober version of the Pogues, only faster too!" and they are deemed by a certain web database as "Unclassifiable". It's not hard to see why. They have been playing their brand of Celtic punk rock since 1988 and in that time no one else has appeared with a sound quite like this. One of the highlights on this album is the folk classic "Wild Rover", which gets The Electrics treatment on this one. Be warned - it isn't what you expect. There is also a cracking version of the Hooters' "Satellite" which, surprisingly, isn't given the heavy treatment that some of the other tracks are. Humour is evident in abundance as demonstrated by the excellent "Tura Lura Lura" and the blisteringly hot "Seventeen Bottles Of Porter". This album is a colourful array of electric guitars, fiddles, mandolins, accordions, pipes, bagpipes and, allegedly, spoons, although I must admit I struggled to hear them! In short, Sammy Horner and his fellow Electrics are a set of very talented musicians who enjoy what they do and don't take it too seriously. Encore!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Friedrich in Echermann @ 16:39 on Sep 12 2006

As a fan of The Electrics from early years in Germany, my enjoyment of fun party music was always best at concerts. I am sad to hear this new CD now, where the party music and fun of old times has gone. Maybe other new fans like this music, but not me, the new CD does not sound like the electrics I know all these years. Maybe too much changes, players and music.


Reply by JimmyD in Texas @ 22:16 on Oct 18 2008

hi Freidrich.
Im very sorry to hear that you didnt enjoy this album as much as older ones.The sense of fun and party spirit is still VERY VERY much what we are about.
Over the years our live shows have become very well known for that,as im sure you are aware.
The sound at the live shows became a bigger "rock"
sound.as well as keeping our traditional celtic vibe also. So we tried to reflect the live sound with bigger guitars on this release,and reviews of the album have been extremely positive.Players come and go in bands,and that is often reflected in the sound and styles of the new players..please check our our page at
www.myspace.com/theelectrics

Keep On Rockin
JimmyD/The Electrics.

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