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Javes

Javes (the)

the Javes

Javes (the) – Beat Crazy

Remmi Demmi RD24 203295 [2024]
Right Now – Nero Rising – Somebody Answer – Home No More – Guardian Angel (From Hell) – Sixteen Tons – Soldier In The Night – Where Danger Lives – T.V. Quarrel – 77 Sunset Strip – Stranger Than Paradise – Jivin’ With My Baby

the Javes Beat Crazy

After almost four decades since their excellent and noteworthy first EP, TV Quarrel, the Javes are making a triumphant return.

At first glance, we might fear seeing a group reunite after so many years, even if they have stayed active in the Rock’n’Roll scene, notably with 45 RPM. Fans are torn between the joy of reuniting with old friends and the apprehension of seeing if they have aged well and not become old dorks (just kidding…).

The doubts vanish with Right Now, the first track of this highly successful album. The sound is impactful, and the carefully crafted production excellently showcases the musicians’ work. Throughout the eight new tracks, they maintain this high level of quality. The Javes chose a brief and cohesive album that eliminates any unnecessary or filler material.
Since their debut EP, the sound has become more intense, and the guitars are more aggressive. Also, the structures evolved into more complex things and melodies. The lively Neo-Rockabilly of the mid-1980s has been replaced by a darker, sometimes menacing modern Rockabilly, as evidenced by their outstanding and highly original cover of 16 Tons. At no point does the trio attempt to make us believe that we are in 1985. While their music is influenced and even codified, The Javes aim to create music for their time. In this aspect, they can be compared to recent albums by Brian Setzer (Gotta Have The Rumble or The Devil Always Collects) or Restless, one of the group’s influences at the time. Like Setzer and Restless, the German group achieves its goal by avoiding the trap of nostalgia.

When certain groups in the rock ‘n’ roll scene seem stuck in traditional ways, it would be a shame to overlook this album. The Javes, with their innovative approach, have given the genre a new twist, keeping it relevant and lively for our times. But that’s not all – this disc offers the best of both worlds. Torsten and his two bandmates had the excellent idea of including four bonus TV Quarrel tracks.

The Javes’ homepage


Javes (the) – TV Quarrel

Razzle Dazzle Records – RAZ 811101 [1985]
TV Quarrel – 77 Sunset Strip – Stranger than Paradise – Jivin’ with my baby

Javes tv quarrel

The Javes were a German trio formed by Torsten Langner on guitar and vocals, Jürgen Berger on double bass and Oliver Hartmann on drums. They released this ep with four original songs in late 1985 / early 1986.

The title track is pure neo-rockabilly in the style of Restless’ first album. Very good guitar, solid double bass and drums and screams. Both 77 Sunset Strip and Stranger than Paradise border on early Psychobilly. If you want to pursue the comparison with Restless, let’s say those two tracks would be more at their place on Do You Feel rather than Why Don’t You Just Rock. Despite what I can say, don’t believe this guys were copycats, it’s just to give you an idea of the sound.

The last track is Jivin’ With My Baby which has a superb jazz feel to it with brushed snare drum and appropriate jazz chords.

Maybe the production is a bit thin at place and a fuller sound would have been better (especially when you know that they recorded some démos for Northwood later that year with Boz Boorer.) But that’s just one minor flaw (so minor you can’t even call it a flaw.)

Both Jurgen and Torsten later joined 45rpm.

Javes

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

45 Rpm

45 rpm
45 rpm

45 rpm

[archive from 2007]
Even if you haven’t heard about 45 RPM before, the name of Thorsten (aka Schroeder) and Jurgen may be familiar to you. They both were members of the neo-rockabilly trio The Javes and had a few records out in the mid 80’s. A few years later, well decided to take over the world but this time with a more authentic sounding rockabilly (I don’t like the term but I haven’t found a better one yet), they found the secret weapon to team with in the person of Sandra : a cute little girl with a rockin’ Patsy Cline voice.
Their second album has just been released, it contains 16 tunes and 9 are written by the band.

by Fred “Virgil” Turgis


How did you meet and how did 45 rpm form?

Sandra – The beginning of 45 rpm was ca.2002/2003. After a few changes of some different bandmembers we´re playing in this constellation since July 2005.

Many american artist discovered rockabilly music with their parents or in a family context. What about you. What led you to this music.
Sandra – My Mom and Dad kept me hearing Mr. Johnny Cash since I was a little “Anything” as she was pregnant with me. As I behold the world I knew that I was looking in 6 really good rocking eyes. MY MOM; MY DAD AND MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER!!!!

Thorsten and Jurgen, you were members of The Javes back in the mid-80’s. One word about that?
Thorsten – Yes, we did! (wow, that’s what I call “one word” – Virgil)

Didn’t The Javes work with Boz Boorer? Are there any unreleased recordings from that period?
Thorsten – Wow, we did work with Boz Boorer in England indeed. But almost no one did know that. We cut 4 songs for Ray Frenshaws Northwood Records, none of it has been released so far. And one of these is a smash hit ( Soldier in the night), promised.

Before joining this guys, Sandra, have you heard about their dark past?
Sandra – Not really – smile- Did they have a dark past, wwooow…

Sandra, when did you start singing? Is this your first band?
Sandra – I enjoy singing since I was a little girl sitting on mummys lap.
In the late 90´s I start singing in my first band. That time I´d been singing in a soul band. But I left that band a few month later. Very strange band – the bassman was in a relationship with the girl on the sax. He was 47 years old and she was 17 – ooops!

Could you tell us about your influences?
Sandra – Since I listened music I was interested in “Old Style Music”.
It started with 60´s – northern-soul-, Rocksteady, Ska, you know?
Approximately 1995 I listened to my first Stray Cats, Restless, Rattlers and (oho) Nekromantix LP. (Shame on me that I´ve never heard this good rocking sound before) And now, here I am ;o)
Mr. Bass Jürgen and Trixomatic don´t say any word – they always slap, and slap, and slap…
Thorsten – I dig very early Neo-Rockabilly, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker, Chico Hamilton. Songwise I go for the “pop”songs, tracks with a catchy melody!

What about your drummer? I’ve heard he joined the band in an impromptu way.
Sandra – Yes, indeed. The “old” drummer didn´t show up for a gig. So we needed to find a new drummer, quick! DJ Rollin´Danny (Trixomatic Olliver) was available at this time and we knew it from the very first gig that he fits perfectly in the band.

Schroeder, you have your own studio and have just recorded a solo album, tell us about that please.
Thorsten – Songs I recorded over the past 16 month, twiddling the knobs in my studio. Played all guitars, drums, handled the vocals and asked two friends of mine to help out with the bass playing. Jürgen did one half of the songs; It´s a mixture from swampy roots rockabilly to voodoo neorhythms to swinging rockabilly tunes. So far, I have not tried to find a label, and give some of them away for free on the homepage.

Does your nickname, Schroeder, come from the Peanuts?
Thorsten – Yes, Schroeder comes from the Peanuts: Sandra once said I would remind her of this piano player character and ever since…

Are you crazy about Beethoven like him?
Thorsten – Personally I go for J.S. Bach, absolutely brilliant. Beethoven is too heavy for me. He was deaf, anyway…

Are you full-time musicians or do you have a day jobs?
Sandra – I´m working ( rocking and rolling, too ) in a day-nursery. Everywhere I am I hear tunes in my head! No voices – TUNES!!!
Thorsten – I´m a full time student ( hehe) ( psychology and sociology), but I live on making music.

You recently backed Rayburn Anthony. It must have been a big thrill to you. Tell us about that.please
Sandra – BE SIMPLY SPEECHLESS!!
It was THE big thrill and the audience was captivate us and we could captivate, too. Is there anything better?

A last word?
Sandra – Hope, we see us and rock the house together!
Best wishes from Fortyfive rpm!!!