Duck and Cover

Duck and Cover – The Pasadena Recordings

Heptown Records HTR045 [2009]
Pick Up My Heart – The Way You Look At Me – Funnel of Love – You Sound So Angry – Lovestruck – One Tear Away – Time Has Forgot – Squarehead Boogie – I Can’t Stop Leavin’ You – Wall of Shame – Window Shopping – One Way Love – Fight or Flight – Lonesome Train

duck and cover album cover

Duck and Cover is a Danish band consisting of Johanne Mortensen on vocals, Peter Knudsen on electric and steel guitar, Paolo Molinari (who was in the first lineup of Nekromantix) on double bass, and Lars Ole Nielsen on rhythm guitar. They traveled from Denmark to Pasadena to record the album under the guidance of Wally Hersom. Wally also played double bass on a couple of tracks, and Pappy Stuckey provided extra help on drums for five tunes.

The album includes eleven self-penned songs, mostly by Peter Knudsen, with two contributions from Paolo and one co-written by Johanne. Additionally, the album features three classic covers: Hank Williams’ “Window Shopping,” Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel Of Love,” and Johnny Burnette’s “Lonesome Train.” Their repertoire spans hillbilly boogie, hillbilly swing, rockabilly, country ballads, and Hank Williams-style music ( One Tear Away sounds very similar to Cold Cold Heart and Fight or Flight has the same haunting feeling, especially on the steel guitar, you can hear on Ramblin’ Man). Mortensen’s vocals are reminiscent of Brenda Lee, with a slightly less convincing performance on straight rock’n’roll numbers like “Lonesome Train.” Overall, it’s a good debut album presented in a well-designed digipack.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Previous Story

Janis Martin

Latest from Reviews

Janis Martin

Janis Martin – The Blanco Session Cow Island Music – CIM020As Long As I’m Movin –

Scum Boys

Scum Boys – Vamp Attack Rumble Records – RUMBCD008 [1991]Coming Home – Natives Of Europe –

Francine

Francine – Shake My Bones My Way WAY 1203 [1989]Shake My Bones – Sweet Lovin /

Dixons (the)

The Dixons – Still Your Fool Cow Island Music CIM010 [2008]Please Don’t Stop Loving Me –

Javes (the)

the Javes Javes (the) – Beat Crazy Remmi Demmi RD24 203295 [2024]Right Now – Nero Rising