The Severed Limb started in the basement of drummer Charlie Michael’s pub during 2008 as a self-described “Punk Skiffle Trio” and have continued to grow from there, having been touted by radio DJ Steve Lamacq after a live session at the infamous Maida Vale Studios, appearing on the same festival bill alongside electronic acts Aphex Twin and Hot Chip as well as supporting Imelda May at a sold out Royal Albert Hall in 2012.
It’s the last comment that seems most appropriate for the band, for their punk roots sound out of place as part of a more dance orientated festival line up whereas I can see them appealing to Imelda May fans as an opening act.
So as the new album opens with ‘If you ain’t Livin’ there’s a rockabilly quality to the track, but at the same time it’s a bit too clean sounding and not quite up there with the likes of The Stray Cats or The Polecats who ultimately have the rock n roll approach all wrapped up.
Although the aforementioned song is an introduction to what may follow there’s an air of disappointment as ‘Tidy is a Vulture’ follows in what seems to be a half arsed album filler, not a good start for two tracks in… then listening ‘Aye Que Calor’ I couldn’t help but think it bares resemblance to Marc Bolan and T-Rex’s ‘I like to Boogie’.
Talking of boogie, where the first track on the album may well have the rockabilly traits, it’s ‘Catsick Boogie’ that’s a bit more like it, the introduction of some nice accordion work adding a slightly different dimension to the tune which would have made the album a lot punchier had it been utilised further.
The Severed Limb then start to delve into Gogol Bordello territory, with ‘Cumbia Madrid’ and ‘Original Calypso Punk’ proving that maybe they’re not that original after all, whereas ‘Long Tall Girl’ is on a par with the boogie cat song and, as a live outfit, hopefully this is where the band would come to life – don’t get me wrong, I’m liking the rockabilly, it’s just on record it’s been done better elsewhere.
There’s a country end to the album as it comes to a close with ‘Death Box’, obviously not a cheerful ditty by the title but one that shows there’s more to The Severed Limb than first meets the eye and although If You Ain’t Living You’re a Dead Man isn’t necessarily a perfect release it’s still worth a second listen, with a couple of the more rockabilly tracks fitting comfortably alongside those that were doing it back in the day… although I say it again, it’s all very well and good, but they’re not quite The Stray Cats.
7Bit’s 7 Word Review – the rockabilly isn’t quite the Stray Cats
7bitarcade - Archive 