By Daffs (TwoDaff)
Hailing from Liverpool, Mondo Trasho are a five-piece psychedelic garage band founded by Jay Muat (Vocals and Guitar) and Chris ‘Moz’ Green (Hammond Organ), they had a mutual love of garage punk bands such as The Cramps and The Flat Duo Jets. Honing their sound with addition of Luke Hamilton (bass), Jim Pitchford (Drums) and recently Dan Mayers (Guitar).
Like the City of Liverpool, Mondo Trasho’s sound takes on a melting pot of external influences. This has developed since the release of a number of EP’s back in 2021. ‘Pure Trash’, ‘That’s Trash’ and ‘More Trash’ . Their sound has expanded further into Psych, garage and Morricone inspired spaghetti western soundscapes. Having heard the previous releases EP’s I can say that these tracks would not go amiss in any Tarantino film soundtrack. Taking inspiration from the early 00’s ‘Scousedelia’ bands such as The Coral has added to their sound.
Their name comes from the title of a 1969 John Waters film and highlights the cinematic themes and experience felt within their music. Mondo Trasho have recently played a number of shows in the North with Heavy North, Night Beats, Zamrock Legends and W.I.T.C.H and are set to expand further afield. The band is set to release a series of singles including an already established fan favourite ‘Hard Times’ due for release on 28th October 2022.
“A real Groove filled hip shaker”
Hard times has a classic 60’s RnB vibe right from the intro. It has a bass groove that to me has a hint of ‘We gotta get out of this place ‘from the Animals/Space but as I say it’s just a hint and my opinion. Nevertheless, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a real groove filled hip shaker that will have audiences dancing. Driving drum beats fill the track with energy and give a real upbeat feel.
“The Vocal swirls and flutters”
Hard Times has many elements packed with many melodies coming from the jangly guitars and the delicious Hammond Organ that adds fantastic colour and texture and adds to the 60’s psychedelic feel. The Vocal swirls and flutters and slurs in and out of the mix, it’s a real swaggering tone and further embellishes the soundscape. If you take the Animals/Doors and mix it up with The Coral/Space and perhaps a sprinkling of attitude you will get what I mean.
“Vibrancy and the rich tones”
The thing that makes it for me though is that Hammond, you don’t get much of that nowadays, the vibrancy and the rich tones it gives are second to none in skilled hands and it doesn’t let you down here…every band should have one in their arsenal. I love the sound but again that’s just me.
All in all, this is a great track, a guaranteed floor filler and definitely a hip shaker. Proper RnB with a modern take without removing the essence of that fantastic 60’s vibe. Bravo Mondo Trasho.
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