The Routes - Reverberation Addict (2023)

The Routes are back with their fourteenth studio album "Reverberation Addict".

Having tackled the music of Kraftwerk on their 2022 album "The Twang Machine", The Routes have applied their sound (described by Iggy Pop as "beat-you-to-death surf music" on his BBC Radio 6 show) to the genius of Pete Shelley and Buzzcocks.

"Reverberation Addict" sees fifteen Buzzcocks songs reimagined and rearranged as 60s surf guitar instrumental bangers (à la The Ventures, Dick Dale, Terauchi Takeshi, Link Wray, The Surfaris and The Astronauts and more). Prepare to be taken on a wild musical trip where "Orgasm Addict" and "Fast Cars" are transformed into the background music of a 60s drag race movie, "Just Lust" is presented all "Hey Bo Diddley!", and "What Do I Get" gets the Ennio Morricone inspired spaghetti western treatment... You don't have to be a fan of Buzzcocks to enjoy these tunes, and likewise, if you're a Buzzcocks fan you don't need to be a fan of surf music to enjoy them.

Finally, as most punks out there will instantly notice, the record cover is a reworking of that of the Buzzcocks single "Orgasm Addict". And what better endorsement or seal of approval is there than having UK graphic design icon Malcolm Garrett MBE RDI himself onboard for the design? Yes, it's the real deal!

Whether you see it as musical blasphemy or musical alchemy, The Routes have provided the world with another potential future cult classic, destined to irk or jerk future generations for years to come.