It's been a little while since we've heard from Costa Rica's fabulous Las Robertas (last years Dissected Affair EP) and even longer still since I saw them live back in June 2011. That wait is over with "Marlene", the first track to be taken from their second album Days Unmade (as yet undated).
Whilst "Marlene" continues the trio's love affair with short, sharp songs rattled through at a blistering pace the track leaves behind much of the older garage sound for one more alike to JAMC or more recently Crocodiles, it creates an exhilarating listen with thick, scuzzy guitars echoing over jangly electric-paced rhythms and cool, harmony vocals - an irresistible slice of head-bobbing indie fuzz goodness awaits...
I somehow managed to completely overlook this on release, Las Robertas released the three track Dissected Affair EP as long ago as last December, I can only blame the Christmas season for missing it first time around but I'm glad I finally found the release on a random Internet trawl the other day....
The Costa Rican trio came to my attention with a heavy, scuzzed-up garage-rock show at The Lexington as long ago as almost two years, "Dissected Affair" retains much of the character I remember from that show, short and sharp, rattled through at a blistering pace, where fuzzed up guitar riffs buzz off crashing drums and nonchalant vocal harmonies. The hazy sun drenched vibe which partly apparent on their debut full-length Cry Out Loud has been replaced by a darker, more intense noise assault.
Similar things can be said for "Seconds Away" which thunders around a heavy, rhythmic bass riff and dreamy harmonies which catapult half-way through with a punky burst of punctured, shrill melody - it maybe lunch-time, I maybe stuck in the office when I'd rather be outside in the sun but Las Robertas make me want to grab a beer and nod my head in approval whilst lapping up the atmosphere of a festival (my days of "moshing" are all but gone!).
You can order the 7", released via Art Fag from Norman Records in the UK now.
Until Monday if I were to have been asked to name a band from Costa Rica my face would have gone blank, however I can now name one, and a very good one at that, Las Robertas hail from the Central American Country and I saw them play their debut UK show at probably my favourite London venue, The Lexington. I found myself there not to see Las Robertas (I'd not heard of them until that day) but Echo Lake.
My fourth time since February, the London group have really put together a perfect half hour slot, an exceptional introduction in "Sunday Evening" with it's droning hypnotising intensity and foot-stomping progressive beat. "Young Silence" is transformed with rattling percussion and layer upon layer of hazy, frenzied guitar and is utterly wonderful. A new stage set-up sees the focal point move onto guitarist Thom and his energetic and vastly competent display is certainly worth the admission alone. See them next 19th July playing White Heat for their single launch (not actually sure what the single is yet but that's what the poster said!).
Las Robertas could easily hail from Brooklyn or Los Angeles for it's easy to compare them to Vivian Girls or a heavy, scuzzier Best Coast with their garage-rock influences as they work through their songs at blistering pace, fuzzed up guitar riffs buzz off the walls backed by a crashing drum beat and wonderful vocal harmonies, their hazy sun drenched vibe and youthful exuberance warms up an increasingly busy Monday night crowd.
There are some early 90's grunge sounds too, gritty noise-pop numbers such as "V For You" and "The Curse" match scuzzy, shoegaze guitar soundscapes with some incredible drumming (full credit goes to the drummer Franco, his shirt might look horrendous but he's pretty spectacular behind his kit).
Las Robertas were simply wonderful, overwhelming charming in their humourous, if a little awkward stage presence (wouldn't you on stage in a Country for the first time) and I was happy to part with £10 for their CD after the show, they forgot the T-Shirts or I might have one of them too.
You can order that CD, their album 'Cry Out Loud' here - do it, and if you are at a loose end in London on Friday (or Brighton tomorrow) go and see them live at The Shacklewell Arms, who knows when they'll next return (though you can safely say I'll be there when they do).
