DRIPPING LIPS – SUCH A LOT OF STARS

It seems that no matter how you twist and turn it, Brian James will always be best remembered for the punk power chords he so inventively bashed out with the Damned when punk first exploded in the UK back in 1976. Brian is single-handedly responsible for writing “New Rose”, today enjoying the status of being the first ever released punk record. Since ’78, Brian James has performed with a string of other bands, released music with Tanz Der Youth, The Lords Of The New Church, and also found time to cut a solo album as well as a couple of solo singles. Brian James’ attitude hasn’t changed the slightest over the years, and he is not the kind of guy who would’ve hung up his guitar just because Guns n’ Roses decided to cover his classic “New Rose”. He’s still going strong strong strong. James’ latest project, The Dripping Lips, features Scottish-born/Belgium-living Robbie Kelman on vocals, Nico Mansy (ex-Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) on bass, and Paul Zahl (ex-Flamin’ Groovies) on drums. The EP’s first cut and title track, “Such A Lot Of Stars”, is a beautiful and atmospheric, yet catchy song. Though “Such A Lot Of Stars”, melodic as hell, still carries the signature Brian James edge, it’s a bit of an unchartered territory for Brian, who gets to turn his guitar up louder on the B-side’s first track, “Powerful”, with its power chord grabbing you firmly by the throat from the very first rotation. It should be noted that the version of “Such A Lot Of Stars” appearing here is radically different, and much preferred by both Brian & Robbie, to the one previously released on the “Ready To Crack?” album. Alan Lee Shaw (ex-The Damned, ex-The Maniacs, ex-The Physicals, & ex-The Rings), who also worked with Brian on his solo album, plays bass on “Abracadabra”.