We Are Wolves

With a sound harking back to the early new-wave bands of the mid 1970s, Montreal-based We Are Wolves delivered one of the most infectious albums of the dance-punk revival, Non-Stop Je Te Plie en Deux (Fat Possum, 2005). They are at their best in the hysterical dance-punk theme Non Stop, but, underlying the whole mayhem, is a profound knowledge of rock's past. Their use of vocals and keyboards in Little Birds evokes Devo and Knack (of My Sharona fame). L.L. Romeo sounds like one of Cramps' evil voodoobilly numbers given an electronic update. The longer pulsating psychodrama of La Nature merges Heldon's neurotic space-rock and Suicide's spectral electro-rockabilly. Snare Me adds a touch of AC/DC's bluesy metal to the recipe. T.r.o.u.b.l.e. approaches the intensity of manic punk-rock. The relentless show of ferocity is interrupted only by the instrumental tribal wardance Namai Taila Cambodge for tabla and synth and the brief Middle-Eastern closer.