The Belair Lip Bombs
★★★★★
Again
THIRD MAN. CD/DL/LP
Australia’s cool guitar-band bonanza continues.
In the late ’70s, sussed skateboarders favoured wheels named Belair Lip Bombs. The Melbourne, Australia-formed quartet of the same name bring thrills and spills of a different sort, their fizzy, immediate sound nodding at Television, early U2 and The Rolling Stones. A Scots transplant to Australia aged three, frontwoman Maisie Everett is a compelling, conversational presence on Again And Again and If You’ve Got The Time, songs which have somehow retained that first-play-through spark which overthinking things so often nixes. Mike Bradvica’s simple guitar hooks also seem to depend on gut instinct, and when Don’t Let Them’s groove kicks in it’s very Watts/ Richards. Though Everett’s lyrics sometimes flag communication probs within relationships – “Motherfucker, just say what you mean”, she implores on Hey You – The Belair Lip Bombs exude the simple joy of being in a band, breezing out of your speakers without affectation.