Full of mariachi horns, violins, reverb soaked lead guitars and raspy and dramatic vocals, The Toot Toot Toots debut album ‘Outlaws’ is a rollicking spaghetti-western. The focus is the story, tracing the story of Eli Rayne as he carves a path of vengeance through the goldfield town of Gomorrah Fields. Different characters are sung by different members; this truly takes shape as a spaghetti-western-rock-opera.
Whilst there is a great comic sense to the music and production, there is also a compelling story with rich, if disturbing imagery: “while guts mix with the mud/ the earth will weep in blood.” If it weren’t for the sense of humour, a lot these characters and imagery wouldn’t feel out of place in a Cormac McCarthy novel. Fans of Tom Waits or Martin Martini should understand where The Toot Toot Toots are coming from; even more so fans of Graveyard Train. A solid, concise debut album from a creative and compelling outfit of Melbourne outlaws.
