Dom Mariani has been a staple of the Australian rock scene for a long time – dating back to his days in The Stems. Currently he is the frontman for the quartet Datura4. On the band’s previous two albums Demon Blues and Hairy Mountain, it laid down a mix of heavy rock and psychedelia that is the perfect soundtrack for a road trip in a 70s Dodge Challenger.
The new album Blessed is the Boogie is filled with groovy and gritty sounds that will make you want to fire up your favorite muscle car and drive it the way it’s meant to be driven on an open road.
As with any music inspired by the 70s, this album goes heavy on the guitar. Throughout the album you hear fuzzy rhythm guitar parts that you might identify as Clutch if you didn’t know any better. The leads aren’t blistering like speed metal. That’s part of what makes the music so powerful. The lead guitarist definitely has the chops for a blistering part, but he puts some space into his parts, which makes for a nice contrast with the fuzzy rhythms.
The title track is appropriately named in part because it borrows from John Lee Hooker. Not only does it have the Hooker boogie beat (as well as some harmonica), but also when the band sings “Boom boom boom boom blessed is the boogie.”
You can see that the band is comfortable in the blues/soul realm with a cover of “Ooh Poo Pah Doo,” recorded by Wilson Pickett and Taj Mahal, among others. The melody and the rhythm are fuzzed-out blues while the organ brings in some soul sounds reminiscent of Booker T.
If you’re someone who likes to play air guitar, this is a great album for you. You can pick any track at random and practice your best air-guitar chops. “Black Dog Keep Running” is one good example. Some of the sustained chords in this song will have you doing your best Pete Townshend pose. Other songs like “Evil People Pt. 2” just make you want to sink into your couch while you let the sound wash over you.
This album is a seamless blend of sounds. The band effortlessly blends elements of fuzzy rock, psychedelia, and blues into a sound that is a dream for fans who grew up with the guitar-heavy rock of the 70s. Blessed is the Boogie (Alive Naturalsound Records) will be available everywhere on April 5. Wherever you play this album, be sure to turn up the volume as loud as you can stand it.
