Ditches - "The Taste"

I first reviewed Ditches less than a year ago after the release of their first 7" 1000 Elephants. Now the Stockholm foursome is back with a second 7" - out on the always dependable Spanish imprint Jarama 45RPM Recs. While the previous EP alternated between super fast-paced garage punk and mid-tempo power pop, here "The Taste" and "Tired Eyes" both favor the modern-day powerpop punk model of Radioactivity or later Marked Men. That's hardly a surprise with Jeff Burke on board to mix and master this release. The aforementioned tracks burn fast at barely over a minute each, and they cram a whole lot of melody into those brief running times. What I like about Ditches is that they manage to inject a contemporary Scandinavian punk feel into a sound that people largely associate with 2000s USA. "The Taste" and "Tired Eyes" both have the darkly melodic appeal of bands like Masshysteri, but with more than enough punch to satisfy punk purists. A cover of The Go-Go's' "We Don't Get Along" (exclusive to the vinyl) is almost completely transformed from the original. It's snappy and tuneful, but with an air of melancholy that brings to mind fellow Swedes Rotten Mind. For me, this song is the highlight of the record. I guess you'll need to track down the vinyl!

When I first started this blog, this sort of melodic punk with garage grit was all the rage. Now there are not as many bands making this kind of music, and it's exciting to hear a band like Ditches that pulls it off well. One of the best new punk groups in Europe!



-L.R.

https://ditches.bandcamp.com/album/the-taste 
https://www.facebook.com/ditchesband 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 
https://www.discogs.com/Ditches-The-Taste/master/1516779