Album Review: Little Barrie, "King of the Waves"

Sometimes described as "the world's best rockabilly-soul-funk-surfer-mod-blues band," Little Barrie have hooked up with original mentor/producer Edwyn Collins for their third and best album, King of the Waves. 

Collins, back on board after a series of strokes and brain hemorrhages floored him in 2005, helps give the album that lived-in, 'instant classic' feel, showcased so strongly on his own 1995 hit A Girl Like You. 

The nuanced, retro production plays to the band's strengths, but from the raucous rockabilly tremolo of Surf Hell and the rumbling funk of Money in Paper to the laid-back stoner blues of the title track, which returns things to the band's spiritual home of the sea, the songs are also better than before and the playing more accomplished. 

How this tsunami of a CD stacks up live can be found out on December 10, when the band plays a one-off gig at Daikanyama Unit.

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