The In-Fuzzed

Reviews

The In-Fuzzed Fuzz Out!! LP

Fuzz Out!! is the second LP from the IN-FUZZED, coming at us from Perpignan, France and a band that’s clearly deep into this ’60s fuzz-worshipping garage rock nostalgia trip, much like FORD’S FUZZ INFERNO. This album isn’t exactly my vibe—it sounds like ’60s music through and through, and I’m probably missing the finer details that fans of this genre would appreciate. It’s mostly inoffensive, but I can’t see myself sitting down to listen to it for fun. Maybe it’s better as party or club music, or as the soundtrack to a scene in a movie. The track “Sex Sex Sex,” despite the promising title, is basically five minutes of improvisational nonsense that sounds like something they recorded during a band practice. If you’re into music that’s all vibe and no bite, this might be your jam.

The In-Fuzzed The In-Fuzzed LP

A real-deal garage banger taking me back to my Rip Off Records-laden glory days, this self-titled long-player from Berlin’s the IN-FUZZED is not only some of the best garage rock I’ve heard in a while, it’s some of the best I’ve ever heard. With a killer, collage-like spread of great songs that all feel authentic, this is a real anomaly for this particular strain of throwback rock’n’roll. Rather than riding a single fuzzy groove-style all the way to hell, or taking on a campy retro pose like many attempts at garage over the last couple of decades, the IN-FUZZED seem to pop around and play in the best bits of all aspects of the genre. And it sounds like they’re really having a blast doing it, whether they’re freaking out a bit and reminding me of Dutch ’90s legends the STIPJES on “Lost Time Rock N’ Roll,” playing ’60s punk à la the MAKERS on “Like Nitroglycerine,” rolling like the BEACH BOYS comin’ down a dirty chimney on the charming “Xmas Night,” or even dabbling in psychedelia a little bit on “Wall.” Playing very much like a compilation of fresh new garage groups instead of the effort of a single band, this is truly an amazing record. I wasn’t expecting this in 2021, but fuck yes, I’ll take it.