Have you ever partied so hard that you blacked out? If so, think of that last thing you remembered happening when you woke up the next day. Whatever that may be is what Governess sounds like. The bands’ debut album, (Let Me Be Your) Governess is a foul blast of fresh air to purify your poisoned hearts, and gleefully torch your saccharine souls. The concept of “rock n’ roll” has been twisted into so many different forms over the years but at the root of all the best kinds is attitude, energy, and some sort of lust, which this album is soaked in. You can’t fake this; sure you can try, but the kids always suss out the posers and this should pass any test you wanna throw at it.
There are many influences heard on Governess’ debut (hard rock, 70’s sleaze, vintage punk, & a sprinkling of metal, in case you’re interested), but they’re almost inconsequential. What matters most is that while you can spot where Governess is coming from, you’re too busy trying to figure out how the albums’ hooks got in you so deep, so quick, to even care about it. The riffs generally have either a punkish, or sleazy strut to them ( “My Darkest Habit,” “Leather Pounder,” “Sister Gin,” and check the NWOBHM groove of the title track). The drums and bass know to support the song and not get in the way, and the vocals have a certain character (“Drone Strike Love,” “Gayboy Berserkers,” “Bitch Wizard,” “Tight Black Denim”) that I can say no one in else Buffalo currently has that I’m aware of. Singer Robot Rob’s vocal patterns are infectious, and his lyrics are incredibly creative and clever. You can tell that a lot of effort was put into coming up with something special, both lyrically and musically, and glorious fruits were the result of the labor.
(Let Me Be Your) Governess clocks in a little over 30 minutes long, which I love. Great rock n’ roll almost always eschews endurance for brevity, as that’s the best way to make an impact in my opinion. The production is clean, but not sanitized, bare, but not empty, and sounds very live, which in a Pro Tools world is VERY refreshing to hear. It’s victory music for the underdog, and a shot across the bow for the false to take heed. In a Lemmy-less world all we can do is hope that bands carry on his spirit so future generations know about real rock n’ roll, and these lads certainly are a prime example of that. So yeah, it’s safe to say I’d let them be my Governess any time. You should too, and bring soap, you’ll need it.
You can purchase the listen to the album on bandcamp or grab a physical at any of their shows.
Written by Greg DiPasquale