Keep it Greasy is a Dirty Good Time
Keep it Greasy
Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell
Rise Above Records, 2016
Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell, the gritty rockin’ band with the unweildy moniker, first came on my radar in the laugh out loud book, Your Band is Called What?. Sure the name was goofed on, but the following observation is still true
today, “It’s like a time machine to 1973 in the best possible way. Like hearing the best guitar leads from Foghat or Hawkwind against Deep Purple and Staus Quo.”
ASCS forego the pursuit of breaking new territory in favor of doing something you’ve heard before, and doing it really, really well. The title, Keep it Greasy, is apt. The songs feel choked with thick clouds of motorcycle exhaust, from riders packed tightly three abreast, nimbly navigating down narrow streets littered with the broken glass of 1000 drunken nights. This wonderful noise is grimy, driven and bombastic. There’s a dark boogie number, “U Got Wot I Need,” the dirty, straightforward headbanger, “Hawkline Monkster,” and the Zeppelin send up, “Tired n’ Wired.” ASCS even manage to plumb the obscure for gold. The slower burning “Hairy Brain Part 2” recalls Budgie, only better.
All of this feels wonderfully familiar,like your favorite denim jacket that fits perfectly. The playing is exceptional with spitfire leads, combustible rhythms, and the odd vaguely psychedelic musical turn. I believe that had Lemmy stayed in Hawkwind and written more songs like “Silver Machine,” it’d sound like this. And I can always use more of this.
