HICKOIDS Hairy Chafin’ Ape Suit

Saustex Music

I guess The Hickoids come from that historic Sam The Sham, Sir Douglas Quintet and Joe King Carrasco Tex-Mex rock-country-mariachi-blues tradition. These Texan punk-country boys may well be certified loonies, but My Oh my, they sure can play. Lead-off track Fruit Fly comes on like Janis Joplin’s Kosmic Blues Band, San Francisco Bay psychedelic wah-wah ‘lectric guitar freak-blues, melded with Latino-tinged B52s, engine-roomed by Moorehead’s bass and Farley’s drums. TJ takes Me And Bobby McGee into Mexico, a stonking, freaky mescaline-fuelled escapade that’s crazy, barmy and loco. If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill, Kill Me is a true riff monster with irresistible beat and rhythm that everyone’s just gotta hear, played very loud, before you die. Cool Arrow is a Mexicana piss-take of a Flash Harry cool dude, and with Mo’ Hair, we get a walking-pace rant blues, introducing the one and only Snide Bunny, and it is perfectly wonderful in its own perversely logical, illogical way. I love these guys and this charming album.

PETE INNES