After the flamboyant second album, Never Never Love Pop signed up a new drummer (Hayden Scott) and his favourite bass player (Lucky Beaches) for a trip to the Californian desert (near the Joshua Tree) at Christmas to record the raw garage rock of ‘Police $ign’.

Fans of 13th Floor Elevator, The Seeds, Box Of Trash, Nuggets et al will instantaneously know the roots of the ‘Police $ign’, albeit it’s a bit closer to early Stooges. In Pop’s words, it’s “about a roller-skating femme-fatale who uses constabulary equipment to get what she wants.” Right on as Pop’s gets his rocks off; even if the end sounds a bit Hawkwind in their heyday.

‘Terrifying’ is dedicated to one of Pop’s heroes, underground film maker Kenneth Anger, and was written while watching his “Invocation Of My Demon Brother.” Over slashing guitar chords, Mr Levi screams his love in a falsetto séance voice. Pop’s gone New York Dolls without the glam on this one and whilst not exactly my cup of tea/bottle of Jack Daniels, you’ve got to admit he pulls it off as well as Iggy would/does.

The man sounds re-energised here. He has just finished supporting Fujiya and Miyagi in the USA and is ready to hit the road with this stripped down, filthy sound. He’s mad and just possibly a genius. And as long as he continues making music this good, who cares?

Reviewed: Pop Levi - Police $ign / Terrifying (Counter) Cat. No: Count021 Release date: 1st June 2009
Tracklisting:
1. Police $ign (3:03)
2. Terrifying (2:54)

Links:
www.poplevi.com
www.youtube.com/poplevi
www.myspace.com/poplevi
www.counterrecords.com
www.myspace.com/counterspace