Leighton Koizumi feat. Tito and The Brainsuckers "When The Night Falls" 2003****

I found this in the Hot Price stall at a Fnac store in Brussels for €0,99. It took me a few moments to remember who Koizumi was but, as soon as I did, I realized I had me a bargain. Who is Koizumi? OK, riddle me this: Who comes out when the night falls, in H.G.Wells's novel "Time Machine"? The Morlocks! Well, Koizumi was the singer of the same-named garage punk noisemakers. [Note to Self: Make a compilation CD alternating Morlocks songs with Eloy (The German prog rockers named after the peaceful race victimized by the primitive Morlocks in Wells's book). Then design a fantastic CD cover inspired by the book and never listen to it, since I can't think of a worse combination]. Interestingly, Koizumi was reported in the media as being dead, killed in some drug transaction in a Mexican border town in 1990. The truth is even more intriguing and sounds like something out of a crime series like "The Bridge" or "Breaking Bad": Apparently, he tried to procure some drugs but the deal went south, with the singer tying the drug dealer up and robbing him. He ended up arrested, accused with kidnapping and convicted to ten years' imprisonment. By 2003, he was back on the streets and teamed up with masked Italian garage rockers Tito and The Brainsuckers, producing this album. It confirms his status as a master screamer, a pumped up, lysergic Japanese-American Iggy Pop. All the songs are covers of 60's garage nuggets. I was especially pleased to see him cover two underappreciated Dutch groups: Amsterdam's Outsiders ("You Mistreat Me") and The Hague's Q65 ("Cry In The Night"). The Moving Sidewalks' (pre-ZZ Top) "99th Floor" is also given a good bashing. Tito and The Brainsuckers are doing a great job as his band, providing an energetic backing with fiery guitar licks. "Get Out Of My Life Woman" is played slow & heavy and the other soul ditty "Leavin' Here" (also covered by The Who, Motörhead etc) is given a punk rock makeover. Love's "Signed D.C." (by that other jailbird, the late great Arthur Lee) is the only ballad, fittingly the lonesome story of a junkie's decline. "When The Night Falls" closes the proceedings with a 7+ minute guitar workout. All in all and despite the absence of original songs, this is a great CD, featuring a tight band playing hi-energy rock'n'roll with tons of punk attitude. Hope Koizumi stays out of trouble and continues making up for the lost time with albums like this...

**** for Leavin' Here (orig. Eddie Holland), 99th Floor (orig. Moving Sidewalks), Cry In The Night (orig. Q65), No Friend Of Mine(orig. The Sparkles), Born Loser (orig. Murphy And The Mob), No Fun (orig. The Stooges)

*** for You Mistreat Me(orig. The Outsiders), I Need You(orig. The Kinks), Get Out Of My Life Woman(orig. Allen Toussaint), Milkcow Blues(orig. Chocolate Watchband), Signed D.C.(orig. Love) 

** for Project Blue (orig. Banshees), When The Night Falls (orig. The Eyes)