Reverend Beat-Man / Izobel Garcia - Baile Bruja Muerto

 

The title of this album translates to "Dance Witch Death", which is pretty appropriate for the sounds therein. We saw this duo 7 years ago here in Vegas and was knocked out by their presentation of blues/ European folk / garage / punk / lunacy. 

Izobel's hauntingly lovely voice opens "Pero Te Amo (But I Love You)" acapella until the Rev comes in with his distinctive growl and some heavy guitar chords, which somehow blends together and works. From there we get a 60's garage keyboard opening for "Come Back Lord" that Beat-Man raves over, but with a call'n'answer chorus - wild'n'wacky'n'sacrilegious but a catchy, bouncy garage tune. Izobel sings the fuzz-garager "I Never Told You", "Black Metal" is a sparse number of the Rev's - kinda Waits/White Sttripes-y, sorta/kinda - cool'n'weird in a hip way. "Viva la Figa" is a bit of 50's bouncey r'n'r with cheesy organ that moves quickly into "Lass Uns Liebe Machen", a duet between the two with the Rev's simple guitar lines backing them in a European folk style - very effective! "Macorina" again highlights Izobel's fine vocals in a European folk settings, but with the Rev's unique twists, of course - speaking of which, he does his own dirgey, bluesy interpretation of the Doors' "Love Me Two Times", "Nerviosa" has a simple drum machine/keys backing for a moody, spooky feel, "I'll Take Care of You" sounds like a spoof on 50's love songs, especially with the Rev's growl, and they end with "My Name Reverend Beatman" where he introduces himself and his legacy'n'philosophy and how he created the world over a simple, bluesy background.

Beat-Man'n'friends sound like no one else, although he has been influenced and has influenced countless others. I love this stuff - pick up anything you can find and see him any time you can!