I always think originality is a bit overrated, I admit it. I’ve never bothered, not really whether a band is “cutting edge” or not – merely whether they’re any good.
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Occasionally, though, you come across a band that genuinely sounds like nothing else.
So, say hello to Gypsy Pistoleros. Coming out of deepest, darkest, urmmm Worcestershire, they are what happens when someone says: “Here, lads, what about if the likes of Dogs D’Amour and Vain had been flamenco bands?
I’m going to guess this happened in the pub, but I’m also here to tell you that the session has lasted for years now and that this album is their second in a couple of years since reforming comes almost two decades after their first.
Let’s not, though, rehash the past (they were ace way back when mind you) and – to quote Noddy Holder – look to the future now, it’s only just begun (thinking about it, it might have been Roy Wood, but I hate Christmas and I’m not arsed to check).
So the 2023 Pistoleros went to see Dave Draper (The Wildhearts and about a million fantastic bands) and the results are here in “Duende A Go Go Loco!”.
I can’t speak Spanish – crikey I’m from Birmingham we can barely talk English – and Google translate says that “Duende” means “Elf”. Whatever, Gypsy Lee (I can confirm this isn’t his real name as he’s emailed me) dances to “La La Land”.
“I Got It All” has its Latin tinges too, but the beauty of this band has always been that they are fun and might well be crackers, but they are as good as sleaze rock gets and so they are here.
“Revolution” has a riff from Shane Pistolero Sparkz (he’s never emailed me so this is his real name until I’m given evidence to the contrary) that Ginger Wildheart would love and a chorus you wish you hadn’t heard – unless you want to walk around your work going “4,5,6 burn corporate pricks. In which case, cool.
If Tyla J Pallas had been from Santa Fe instead of Wolverhampton then he’d have made “Maybe Tomorrow” too, but there’s always been something that set these boys apart. And I know we’ve had some fun with this review, but the Gypsy Pistoleros have always had an eye for the cinematic – and not just because Rutger Hauer is in one of their videos. “I’ll Remember You” proves it. If it’s a ballad, it’s a ballad in Wide-screen, and no one will ever attempt “The Ballad Of Tommy Shelby” again. Much less pull it off. Now, I’m the only Brummie on earth that thinks Peaky Blinders is rubbish, this song though. Very much not. Let them take you back to the 1950s. Wonderful.
“The Thrill Kill Killer Club” slashes and burns with its best punk rock lip-curl, “Like Tears In The Rain” (the one with Rutger Hauer on its video) is a single for a reason. It’s a beauty, and fans of late 90s stuff, think Senseless Things et al, need to get on it.
Last week I reviewed the new album from The Struts and managed to miss that they’d re-tooled a Mott The Hoople song and given it a different name. I don’t think GP have done the same with “What’s It Like To Be A Girl?” but the way Lee spits “What’s it like to make boys cry” suggests issues.
Which leaves just one more. Now, when I saw they’d released “Come On Eileen” my heart sank. It is rubbish. It’s music that people who don’t like music like. Usually. Here, when the Gypsy’s thoughts verge on dirty, they are in the gutter. Fantastic.
Oh and despite the whole hating Christmas thing, I’ve been put in charge of the playlist for the charity I work for’s 80s-themed party for the people we look after. “…..Eileen” made it, so yeah. Thanks, lads.
Look, as light-hearted as we’ve been here, let’s end by being deadly serious. The world’s finest sleazy flamenco band might be a small selection, but it’s the Gypsy Pistoleros. They are utterly magnificent, and so is this. As bonkers as it is, it is a world, that once it’s sucked you in, you’ll never want to leave. Like “Hotel California” but with better hats.
Rating 9/10
