Here is a single with a nice bit of bite to it from sharp garage punk minstrels The Hipshakes on Manchester's very own Crocodile Records.
Although they put out not one but two long players in 2015 (with another out in early 2016!), it has been a fair while since the outfit has released a single on record so its good to hear they are still churning out the same style of catchy, raucus ditties that they have always endeavoured to produce.
The Hand (of Real Losers fame) says side A is a Good Vibrations-esque Northern Irish-style 70s punk hit. He might be onto something: Think You Know sears through blistering choruses with gratifying gang vocals and brooding, pounding verses. It comes together seamlessly into a dance floor stomper guaranteed to get even the squarest stiffs into action and bouncing like they ought to.
On side B we have the conversely named "I Think I Knew" a song originally written by The Hipshakes for fellow Mancunians the Fruit Tones. For reasons unbeknownst to man nor beast this never came to fruition. Never ones to ditch a song the Hipshakes went on to record their own version, and this is the result, a sixties psych-garage toe tapper and and a fine counterpoint to the energised harder edges of the side A. This smooths things down for a slightly more sedate experience for the listener whilst still maintaining a power in its belly which is undeniable and keeps you hooked.
The Hipshakes are from Bakewell, capital of the Peak District, and now live in Manchester and Sheffield
You Think You Know b/w I Think I Knew out January 2016 on Crocodile Records.
