July 19, 2002

The D4 : London Highbury Garage

For anyone who likes their garage rock clean and not too dangerous

The D4 come to conquer. People are hungry for some new garage-rock heroes and, as America and Scandavia have been roundly plundered, it’s time to look to the fertile hills of New Zealand.

They burst onstage, ramming into 'Get Loose', punching the air with clenched fists, mounting the speakers and throwing shapes. They rage through their opening half dozen tracks with the bubblegum glam garage glee of the New York Dolls, throwing in a touch of rockabilly, a nod toHives, some English punk and some AC/DC. 'Rock 'N' Roll Motherfucker' is glorious. ‘Running On Empty’ is a stompalong treat.

But there’s a downside, too: they play for far too long. There are ropey moments on debut album '6Twenty' and tonight The D4 include them all. A band like this should be on and off in 20 minutes. Anything else is superfluous.

These boys have obviously read the garage-rock guidebook and should know the rules, but they’re just too damn polite. They may be well brought up, but there is no call for such manners in an oxygen-starved, sweatpit.

For anyone who likes their garage rock clean and not too dangerous, we bring The D4.

Paul McNamee