Len Price 3

The latest in a long line of garage bands to emerge from the banks of the River Medway in North Kent, the Len Price 3 follow in the hallowed footsteps of the Milkshakes et al and do so in fine style. Their debut album, ‘Chinese Burn’ (on the Laughing Outlaw label - www.laughingoutlaw.com.au) reminds me of the Kinks playing All Day and All of the Night and at times of the Buff Medways at their best, but at all times sounding like nothing other than the Len Price 3. But that said, the aforementioned Milkshakes are a more obvious influence throughout – and it’s nice to see Mickey Hampshire as a source of inspiration for a change. But these guys are no average garage-punk band – they bring more to the (turn)table than basic three-chord rock’n’roll. The psychedelicisms of another Medway band, the Dentists, is also in evidence. Alongside the seemingly obligatory Link Wray cover and typical Medway beat stompers, there are also Beatles/Hollies style harmonies delivered with a sweetness that makes the Who/Kinks meets seventies punk rock swagger of other songs hit you like a punch in the gut. Fifteen tracks in a mere half an hour – this is how rock’n’roll should be done. An all-round great debut! And the trio's new long player, "Rentacrowd", on Little Steven van Zandt's Wicked Cool label, is the rock 'n' roll record of the year so far. An ear-grabbing blast from start to finish, it’s is a refreshing blast of classic rock 'n' roll in the best sense of that term.