Seven years after The Datsuns’ last long-player ’Deep Sleep’, New Zealand’s fuzz-rockers have now released album number seven Eye To Eye and for followers of quality riff-based rock ’n’ roll it’s a work of pure joy. From the frantic opening track Dehumanise, it leaps outta yer speakers with it’s buzz-saw guitar licks and driving beats, aided by a menacing hammond organ swirling around in the spirit of the late great Jon Lord. Without breaking stride, track two Warped Signals gallops along at great pace. These guys are in a hurry to please. Moongazer brings the tempo down a notch but the feels are ramped up to the max. Similarly, Raygun slows the beat down but the production values are off the charts. The epic psych-rocker In Record Time ends the 11 track trip and just makes you yearn to hear this album played live. Written and recorded pre-pandemic but lovingly tweaked thereafter, it’s been a long time in the making but well worth the wait. Arguably the band’s best yet! In digital marketing speak, if you like this, you might also like; Eagles of Death Metal, The Ramones, and Deep Purple.
To celebrate the release of the album, the band has also released a limited edition Eye To Eye all-analog phaser pedal produced in collaboration with London-based boutique effects creator Magnetic Effects, which is run by London-based Datsuns lead guitarist Christian.
In our zoom interview, Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips chats with Bass player/vocalist Dolf de Borst and guitarist Christian Livingstone about the creation of the Eye to Eye album, the Eye to Eye phaser pedal and more.
Eye to Eye is available via Hellsquad through MGM on LP, CD and digital formats
