Poor Little Things – Disco’s Burning
(Independant)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
As the proverbial curtains come down on 2019, nothing cures and reinvigorates the weary soul quite like a dose of energised, seductive rock’n’roll and Switzerland-based Poor Little Things have just the remedy. Poor Little Things made some significant waves when they dropped their self-titled debut EP in 2018 (also recently released on Vinyl); suffice to say they have continued to build upon that momentum with their first full-length offering ‘Disco’s Burning’.
Poor Little Things is a collaboration between vocalist Tina Jackson and guitarist Dave Talon (of Rollerball, The Marlboro Men, Captain Control and Kings of the Sun notoriety), and accompanied by drummer and percussionist Fernando Marlboro (also of The Marlboro Men). Clocking in at just over 30 minutes long, Poor Little Things fans both old and new will undoubtedly revel in the succinct collection of rapid-fire tracks ‘Disco’s Burning’ offers.
Poor Little Things exude a timeless sound without straying into tired, clichéd territory. Having drawn comparisons to the likes of The Runaways, Heart and Blondie, they inject a contemporary flair into an archetypal classic rock sound. ‘Disco’s Burning’ is the sonic equivalent of a stroll down memory lane, albeit through original material. This is a tribute to – whilst proclaiming their love for – good old-fashioned rock’n’roll. The result: a polished feel-good album that you will have spinning on repeat.
Opening track ‘Panic Attack’ is undoubtedly is a standout, admirably setting the tone for the album as well as providing a teaser of what is to come. Each of the album’s nine tracks shine in their own right, making this an impressively cohesive collection of songs. Jackson’s husky vocals are at times reminiscent of the late and great Chrissy Amphlett with just a dash of Joan Jett (in the best possible way), emanating confidence with a dash of sass – the perfect accompaniment to Talon’s guitar playing prowess. For those wanting to jump straight into sampling some of the album’s highlights, check out the soaring and foot-stomping ‘I’m Not Going Down Alone’ and closing track ‘Déjà Vu’ – which utilises an abundance of hand claps to great effect and closes proceedings on a high note indeed with an extended guitar solo from Talon.
For a band that proclaims they “are very serious about not taking things too seriously”, ‘Disco’s Burning’ is one of the musical highlights of the year. Here’s hoping there is much more to be heard from Poor Little Things over the next decade.
If you enjoyed this content, please consider donating towards the running of Ambient Light, covering expenses and allowing us to expand the coverage you love by clicking the red button below (Desktop) or visiting our PressPatron page (Mobile).