Detroit Cobras: Tied and True (Shock)

This rough'n'raw outfit from the Motor City have perfected the art of lo-fi covers of Motown r'n'b and old rock'n'roll hits, and strip them right back to the elements which I suspect are in this order; a good time, leopard skin pants, high heels and getting people up dancing.

In one sense there isn't anything to get too excited about -- they aren't like Dr Feelgood or the Stones in their clubland heyday, and are more pop than punk, more club than garage.

But they also have an infectious enthusiasm and anyone who covers obscurities such as Leave My Kitten Alone, Nothing But A Heartache and The Hurts All Gone is more than okay by me.

Imagine a soul-loving band made up (mostly) of Chrissie Hyndes taken out of the Star Club in Hamburg in '62 and dumped in a studio where they hear themselves as widescreen as Phil Spector's Spanish Harlem sound . . .