Coming to us in heavy, monophonic 7" black vinyl format, THE LEN PRICE 3'S debut single "Christian In The Desert" is a vicious statement of intent.
Spurting into life via infectious, Wilko Johnson-style guitar slashing from frontman Glenn Page, this song - which also heralds the arrival of their scorching debut album "Chinese Burn" - takes no prisoners whatsoever, while also benefitting from the LP3's taut, drilled rhythm section and the brilliant "Hallelujah" chants at the chorus. Intriguingly, the song is loosely based upon Luis Bunuel's surreal, 1965 religious satire, "Simon In The Desert", which soon suggests there's more to the Len Price boys than simply cranked-up riffs and sweaty adrenaline, though that too plays a signficant (and irresistible) part of their appeal.
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Flipping over's well worth it, too, for the B-side ( a real B-side on vinyl!) features both the all-too-brief, dust-kicking rocker "Doloria" and a second album highlight in the supericially hooky, but lyrically melancholic, sting in the tail of "Amsterdam". Both win you over equally comfortably and retain their lustre when you revisit.
The Len Price 3 are quite a find. They come bearing vintage valve equipment and the garage-rock stamps of authenticity, but convince as a thoroughly modern 21st century outfit in their own right as well. They are fierce, hungry and have a corking cache of tunes. What more do you need to know?
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