The Rogers Sisters

Manchester Music - Invisible Deck Review - 09/11/06

THE INVISIBLE DECK * joint album of the week *

If you thought the Rogers Sisters entered the music business with the sole intention of making ears bleed and teeth rattle, read on – I’m hopefully, going to change your mind. The previously knuckle scraping sounds of their last two EP’s are still present – but they’ve cleaned the grazes, had a few stiches and put a quick field dressing on.

Opening with the compelling fuzz and rock and roll spirit of “Why Won’t You”, there’s already a taste of what’s coming next. “Never Learn To Cry” is a brilliant outing with a descending bass line rumbling beneath Jennifer Rogers’ vocal – the guitar chimes in with wired riffs which mutate into big chords – this is special, addictive stuff. Miyuki Furtado adds his vocal lead on the punkier “The Light” all the time slicing at the sonics with bouts of razor sharp riffage. When the songs decide to clatter, there’s a rock solid bind to the timing and the sub-harmonies sound like an edgier B52’s reciting the best bits from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ catalogue. I reckon the Rogers Sisters are better than that and more so.

There are plenty of moody shots too – the crawling, vengeful 1979 guitar sounds of “You Undecided” are verging on the dangerous whilst the spangled, white noise of “Emotion Control” carries the lightest almost faintest, sweet vocal. The most addictive thing about the album though, is that even at just ten tracks, there’s a completeness to the collection – this is an album in the true sense – start at the beginning and whatever you do, don’t stop ‘til the end – don’t cherry pick tracks – this deserves to be played right through.

MMMM ½

By Manuel Ecostos
Manchester Music