Ch-Ch-Chains (And Black Exhaust)

Blackrock: Yeah Yeah
Sir Stanley I Believe I Found Myself
From: Chains & Black Exhaust

I'm always more than delighted to receive suggestions for posts and artists from you, the Fuzz readership. Following on from my Purple Image post a number of people supplied me with names of artists that i may want to check out. Josh Musick went one better though, supplying me with a copy of a truly blazing compilation: Chains & Black Exhaust (and it's not even my birthday till next week).

A highly limited release in 2002, the tracks were compiled by Dante Carfagna, the truly awesome DJ and writer for Wax Poetics. The compilation includes stellar tracks by artists such as Black Merda and Hot Chocolate (no, not the Errol Brown group, the other ones) as well as a number of bands I've never even heard whispers about.

To be honest I really could post up every single song from this collection, it really is that good, but in time honored Ear Fuzz tradition I've had to limit it to two.

Blackrock couldn’t be more appropriately named if they tried, offering a heavier, dirtier update of the organ and bass led funk rock reminiscent of Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm. Yeah Yeah features guitar licks for days as the lead player wails for all he's worth over the rolling piano melody.

I Believe I Found Myself is all out insanity on wax with the royal Sir Stanley belting out his vocals with unrestrained passion, his voice cracking with the strain from the first notes as the band absolutely rip it up. I am in awe of the way the track brings in the guitar solo after the chorus – absolute killer.

If you ever get a chance to get your hands on this collection do not even stop to think about it, buy it and treasure it for ever.