Great Adventure

10 years in and St.Albans based New Wavers - The Scratch are releasing their 4th studio album, Great Adventure. Always, Independent and Unrepentant as proclaimed by a track of the same name from their previous long player - Whatever Happened to Friday night - The band are still as steadfastly D.I.Y as from the day it all started with their acclaimed 2002 7” single debut - I Relax to Spiral Scratch. “A glorious ballsy, ramshackle anthem, ‘I relax to spiral scratch’ is an infectious tribute to The Buzzcocks, infused with the spirit and energy of The Damned, Dolls, Ramones and their like. If it had first appeared in the late 70’s it would subsequnetly have appeared on every British punk compliation since.” [Phil Suggitt, Sindig Magazine] With 3 previous self released albums DIY 2004 /Night Bus or Milk Train 2006 and the aforementioned Whatever Happened to Friday Night 2009 under their belts. A raft of vinyl and MP3 singles (5 of which have topped the Tourdates unsigned chart).  X-Ray Eyes/Brainstorm (Ponyland 10”) - By England’s The Scratch is one of the most pocket-picking white guy post-punk dub dance whatsis slabs since The Pop Group’s “She Is Beyond Good And Evil”. And, yeah, it lacks some of that record’s massiveness. but the sputzy way these clowns pile grooves together on “X-Ray Eyes”, then tangle them with Beefhearty guitar slides, and strange post-glam vocals, is pretty goddamn snappy. [The Wire] Notable supports to Noel Gallagher, The Charlatans, Ian Brown, Echo and The Bunnymen, Goldblade, Mystery Jets, The Heartbreaks and Paul Weller and radio play from the likes of Tom Robinson on BBC 6music and long term fan and XFM DJ Clint Boon, have led to much anticipation for The Scratch’s first album for 3 years.  “Not only are The Scratch knocking out some of the best new punk rock in Britain today, they’re a pleasure to watch live too. Everything’s right about them. The sound, the look, the spirit. I’m a fan for those reasons. Onwards and upwards Scratch people. The new album’s f**kin ace! Clint Boon – XFM Great Adventure, as testified by all who have heard it to date, is the bands best collected work. Self produced, but mastered by Jon Astley who’s previous client list includes The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Abba. The album brings together all ‘classic’ Scratch ingredients (Harmonies, humour and sprinkles of English eccentricity delivered in the short sharp 3 minute rock’n’roll songs), which have made the band perennial ones to watch and now turn them into ones to be listened too on a wider scale.