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The D4

6Twenty

Label: Flying Nun Records Release Date: 17/06/2002

1728
_adam_ by Adam Anonymous May 7th, 2002

Approaching their art as any good rock band should – that’s bollocks first with all amplifiers turned up to maximum – The D4 manage to distil everything they stand for into one song.

The tune in question, ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Motherfucker’, rudely introduces the New Zealand foursome’s UK debut LP and, unfortunately, almost universally throws the album’s remainder into the shade.

It’s not that The D4 go down without a fight – they pillage a cover version from Guitar Wolf (‘Invader Ace’) and also slip in ‘Pirate Love’, written by late New York Dolls decedent icon Johnny Thunders, references that betray their roots and influences perfectly.

But the garage rock on display here is more suburban carport than filthy downtown lock up. Cynics may even wonder where these grubby guitar troublers keep materialising from, given the current climate for all things retro, Stooges and, well, rock ‘n’ roll.

‘Heartbreaker’ is perhaps the highlight, perversely so considering its lovelorn and less than supercharged pace, but articulates the words many a scorned partner has felt with “I wish I’d never met you at all” regrets.

All the same, as Jon Spencer, Iggy Pop and countless others before them, for full appreciation you just know that The D4 need to be seen live in a tiny sweatbox with beer flowing and fists flying. Which is a shame, but until they invent virtual reality stereos, unavoidable.

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