Album review: ELECTRIC SIX – The Human Zoo

Metropolis Records [Released 14.10.14]

Electric Six have been going for some time now, first coming to many people’s attention with ‘Danger, High Voltage’ and ‘Gay Bar’, plus more recently a video with mainman Dick Valentine dressed as Freddie Mercury covering the Queen classic ‘Radio Ga Ha’, which annoyed a fair few Queen fans. Never one to shy away from controversy this album is based on the concept of the human zoo and features all manner of weird and wonderful sounds.

Opener ‘Karate Lips’ stomps (suppsoedly based on a female teenagers karate class) in like an 80’s hair metal beast, then next you have the insanely catchy 70’s disco pomp of ‘It’s Horseshit!’ Imagine ELO jamming with Chic! This can work against the band I guess as they cover so many musical styles in one album, but with an unnerving knack for a catchy melody the listener is soon drawn back again and again. It doesn’t always work though as ‘Gun Rights’ is fairly pedestrian by the band’s high standards.

Listening to ‘Alone With Your Body’ you may think you’d stumbled across a new Tom Jones tune! The vocal phrasing is uncannily like Tom Jones. ‘Satanic Wheels’ delves into melodic rock/AOR territory, whilst I’d challenge anyone not to sing-a-long to ‘(Who The Hell) Just Called My Phone?’ A ringtone and single if ever there was one. This song is classic Electric Six, reminiscent of ‘Danger, High Voltage’.

Electric Six don’t conform to one musical arena and go wherever they feel the music needs to go. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)