The Courettes – Back In Mono: B-Sides & Outtakes

Last year The Courettes released the stunning Back In Mono album via Damaged Goods Records, so it doesn’t take a genius to work out that Back In Mono: B-Sides & Outtakes is not a new full length, rather this is a companion piece to the album, a collection of tracks that didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. You often hear the cry of “if they weren’t good enough then why are they releasing them now” from assorted social media accounts, and in some cases they would have a point, but not with latest collection from The Courettes. Play Back In Mono: B-Sides & Outtakes on shuffle with the original album and I defy you seperate the outtakes from the tracks that made the final cut.

Opening with the full on wall of sound 60’s girl group vibe of Daydream, it’s clear that the band’s latest release is following closely in it’s counterparts footsteps. This is followed by the strident beat and fuzzed out riff of garage stomper b-side Tough Like That, a track that takes a step back back to the band’s earlier releases. We then hit the spectre of the wall of sound again with the trio of Talking About My Baby, Last Dance With You and Only Happy When You’re Gone. There’s a brief detour with Killer Eyes, the b-side to the Misfits & Freaks single, that captures the girl group vibe but brings fuzz and a touch of authentic rock ’n roll into the mix. The album closes with the perfect 60’s pop of The Boy I Love and So What, a rarity that was previously only available on a split single with The Jackets.

Back In Mono: B-Sides & Outtakes is an essential album if you loved Back In Mono as much we did, and as that album that came fourth in our countdown of our favourite releases from 2021 there’s a lot of love for the Brazilian / Danish duo. This companion piece comes lovingly wrapped in a brand new mix by wall of sound aficionado Seiki Sato and completes the duo’s flashback to last year, and it must be said way further back given The Courettes love of all the good stuff from the sixties era. Back In Mono – B-sides & Outtakes will be released on CD, 10” vinyl and digital formats at the end of this month via Damaged Goods Records, just in time for the band’s eagerly anticipated return to the UK on tour this Summer.