The Surf Rats

Strange Things (Greystone)

During the 80s psychobilly, with its fast, frenetic unrelenting sound, fusing punk, rockabilly and 60s garage punk, was arguably the biggest underground alternative music scene, not only in the UK but also across mainland Europe and beyond. Centred at The Clarendon Hotel, aka The Klubfoot in London, psychobilly found favour with disaffected music lovers and party animals alike, including on the Scooter Scene. Morphing from The Wharf Rats to become the Surf Rats, the trio, fronted by Gaz Marson, released one of the most iconic albums of the genre, Trouble, in 1988, on Lost Moment records 30 years ago!

In the interim there’s been Straight Between The Eyes (1989), Welcome To Killafornia (2009), and now to mark the 30th anniversary of Trouble, comes Strange Things. Something of a taster or teaser for this album came out on the Spanish Just For Fun imprint in the shape of a three-track EP in 2017, which featured (album) title track Strange Things (Happen After Midnight) as the lead track.

Ten tracks in all on vinyl, plus the CD-only bonus cuts Big Fat Cadillac, Fireball and Low, see The Surf Rats collaborating with a vast array of guest musicians, including The Long Section (horns) on Big Fat Cadillac, Smash It Up, Smash It Up and Low, also Scott Milsom (Coffin Nails, The Hawkmen) upright bass on Murder In The Tub and Erin Bardwell (Skanxsters, Erin Bardwell Collective) keyboards on Big Fat Cadillac.

Primal beats underpinned by slap bass riffs abound throughout, infectious rockin’ rhythms that give off a clarion call to the dancefloor. The Surf Rats are touring the album throughout 2018 and beyond, catch them at a venue near you if you can.

Mail order details contact:www.greystone-records.com