The Bambi Molesters
"Sonic Bullets, 13 From The Hip"
by Johanna J. Bodde


                            

THE BAMBI MOLESTERS   "Sonic Bullets, 13 From The Hip" (Dancing Bear)   www.dancingbear.hr  and  www.thebambimolesters.com The Bambi Molesters, that name! O.K., it is a name you will remember of course. As the band was playing at the Orange Blossom Festival (2003), I think it's a good idea to just bring their CD to the attention. These are Croatian musicians who mainly play surf and rock&roll, instrumentals indeed, in the style of Link Wray and Dick Dale, to just let a couple of big names roll. Now it's the particular thing, that a number of well known musicians like The Bambi Molesters verrry much and wanted to collaborate on their album, which was partly recorded in Seattle, by the way. Peter Buck (yes, the one of R.E.M.) for instance, adds guitar and fuzz bass. Scott McCaughey (recently working in The Minus Five) does a multi-instrumentalist thing. Eduardo "Speedo" Martinez then takes care of his Spanish spoken intro and tail-end of one song. "Ice & Pinewood Trees" sounds very interesting and quite mysterious with vocal of Chris Eckman (The Walkabouts) in his typical half spoken style, supplemented by a harmony of lady-bassplayer Lada Furlan. Chris plays acoustic guitar on "Last Ride", while Terry Lee Hale turns up to whistle along and to make cowboy sounds ("u-cha"), original find. The Croatians themselves provide a solid base with drums, bass and two guitars. The CD looks like a film soundtrack, after unfolding the inlay you instantly hold a small-sized poster with photographs of model Tamara Videc and the band, gangster-style. Maybe the tracks with vocals and other little jokes could have been divided a bit better over the album, now they're all in a row, or is that for a reason? Very exclusive. Very good. Every first question in every interview definitely is about that name! --- Written by Johanna J. Bodde. Dutch original of this review previously published on Real Roots Cafe, The Netherlands. =====
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