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Your New Favorite Fuzzy/Bluesy Duo

I gotta say this album right here was a big surprise for me. I didn’t see it coming, January saw a lot of good releases, but not really UBER-AWESOME ones… Well, that was only until I discovered Filthy Lucre‘s debut album, “Mara“.

Why ? Because this duo from Adelaide, Australia just blew me away with their insane riffs, fully loaded with an immense dose of fuzzy heaviness & bluesy groove, and that killer “punch-in-your-face” production (by Sylvia Massy, known for her work with Tool, Johnny Cash, System Of A Down, and many many more famous artists), like a forced invitation to headbang with all the energy you have left in your body !

How is the sound ?

I like duos in Rock in general because it’s most of the time a very direct sound, a music alchemy formed by 2 souls rockin’ together who decided to give all they have, expressing themselves fully via the power of the music ! As always, some do it better than others, some have just more talent, and this is the case with Luke (vocals, guitar) and Edward (drums), forming together “Filthy Lucre” !

One thing that strikes you the first time you press play on “Dover Street“, is this huge Fuzz guitar sound. And I know every fuzzer reading this blog will instantly love it, eager for hearing what’ll be coming next. Well, let me tell you you won’t be disappointed ! Be ready for 14 tracks of the most catchy riffs I haven’t heard since Royal Blood album in 2014.

These 2 Aussies really understood how to create great rock songs, layering perfectly between powerful & melodic vocals parts, some calmer parts, and uber-heavy riffs. The “little discussions” happening between the guitar, the vocals and the drums are also very interesting. The whole album flows in fact very easily, each song is like connected to the next one, and you see they weren’t thrown like this, in no particular order.

Another point I only briefly mentioned in my introduction, is this very enjoyable appeal Filthy Lucre has with the blues. Especially in the calmer parts/songs, like in “Hand Made [Part 1]” or “Take It Slow”. Sometimes you’ll also hear some bottleneck slides like in “Devil Man” or”Hand Made [Part 2]”. And here and there you’ll spot a killer bluesy rhythm, like in the last track of the album, “Just A Little”, where you can literally hear a heavier version of the riff from The Black Keys’s song, “I’ve Got Mine“.

Filthy Lucre really has the potential to hit it big, very big, at least I hope they do. Mara is indeed a killer album, the musicianship is strong, the riffs are full of fuzz, full of groove, play it loud and enjoy the headbangs fuzzers !

Why is this album worth listening to ?

Best duo I have heard since Royal Blood.
Face-melting fuzzy riffs.
Fuzz + Blues = UBER-AWESOMENESS !
Catchy vocals.

In what situation should you listen to this album ?

Seeing how Filthy Lucre is punchy in studio, I’m dying to this them at a one of their gig. They already must have broken some necks, and I think mine wouldn’t resist too.

Something particular to note ?

Notice the wink to The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” in “Dover Street“, and the fuzzy cover of the famous song by the electronic rock band Awolnation, “Sail“.
Available digitally & on CD via their Bandcamp, jump on it !