Lookin' Out. The Pulsebeats

More great rock and roll from Spain. Lookin' Out is the kind of album that could be reviewed with a single sentence, even a single word: partytime! As that is what The Pulsebeats offers its listeners, a party from the very first to the very last second.

A band that offers great rock songs in the punkrock, powerpop, garage rock segment and in every song manages to drop a couple of great bass runs, sets itself apart. The whole band kicks in the (effect) pedal with pleasure to give all for a couple of minutes per song. Short, fiery guitar solos, fun vocal melodies, huge, powerful drums. "And the band played on", Nathan Whittle sings in '(She Sings Like) Joey Ramone'. That is the main message I gleaned from listening to Lookin' Out. By the way, don't forget to listen how the rhythm section kicks this song to life!

Joey Ramone, The Ramones may be mentioned, but in my book the songs of The Pulsebeats are far more melodic, if not plain better. Green Day is more like it, with its bass player Mike Dirnt as major influence. The bass as a semi-permanent solo instrument. It sets the scene alright, these examples.

The Pulsebeats are a band from Santander on Spain's North coast. Alejandro Santos, bass/backing vocals, Luis Ibañez, guitars, Nathan Whittle, vocals/guitars and Ral Garcia, drums, are its members and together they cook up a storm. Lookin' Out is the band's third album in 11 years, returning after a five year hiatus. The break sure made sure the band did not lose any of its energy, because it is all here, balled into 13 tracks that will make you jump and shout. I'm fully aware how unoriginal this may sound, but it is the plain truth. The Pulsebeats offers the real thing. Writing anything else would be lying. Should I have a pulse beat like this on a regular basis, I'd be rushed off to hospital immediately. Temporarily, I'm fully alright with it. Partytime!

It's also all you need to know. If you like punkrock with rock and roll, powerpop and garage rock elements infused in all the right places, look no further, as The Pulsebeats offers it all and then a little extra for good measure.

Wout de Natris