In a time of global strife,
the Courettes
are an inspiration -- a woman from Brazil and a man from Denmark not only find a love that transcends geographical borders, but they form a top-notch garage rock band to boot. Vocalist and guitarist
Flavia Couri
and drummer
Martin Couri
know how to generate an impressive amount of noise for just two people, and while the raw, blues-infused sound that's the standard for garage revivalists (especially in the guitar-and-drums format) is a big part of their formula, they also have a taste for vintage pop melodies, girl group romance, and
Phil Spector
-influenced productions that prove two players can equal a Wall of Sound.
The Courettes
were touring the United States for the first time in 2023, and to get American listeners excited about the event, their label,
Damaged Goods
, compiled
Boom! Dynamite
, a 14-song sampler that features selections from their first three albums -- 2015's
Here Are the Courettes
, 2018's
We Are the Courettes
, and 2021's
Back in Mono
-- as well as some hard-to-find singles sides and rare tracks.
Flavia
's vocals, which can bite like a banshee or soar like
Ronnie Spector
depending on the needs of the song, are great and pleasingly versatile, and her buzzy guitar work adds just enough finesse to make the raunch all the more effective.
Martin
's drumming and harmonies are spot-on, splashy while never going overboard, and their production smarts -- much of their material was recorded in their own studio stocked with vintage gear -- is impressive, making the most of their streamlined lineup and adding the occasional guest when they need it. "I've Been Walking" and the title cut wail hard, "The Boy I Love" and "Want You! (Like a Cigarette)" are retro-pop with attitude, "R.I.N.G.O." is a cool love letter to a particular drummer, and "Voodoo Doll" is easily the greatest
Sonics
tribute to feature a vocal cameo from Brazilian horror icon
Jose Mojica Marins
(aka
Coffin Joe
). Serious
Courettes
fans probably own most of this music, but if you like your contemporary garage rock strong and flavorful and you haven't checked out this band,
is an excellent starting point. ~ Mark Deming