Intouchables Beat of the Street LP
Showcasing previously unreleased 1982 recordings from this Parisian unit led by legendary axeman Henri-Paul Tortosa, Beat of the Street comes with some serious pedigree. In the early ’80s, Paris had become a second home for exiled New York icon JOHNNY THUNDERS. The troubled punk legend found respite in the vibrant and welcoming French scene, where Tortosa and his band LES INTOUCHABLES were an established fixture in French clubs like the Gibus. Recognizing his shared penchant for hypnotic rudimentary rock’n’roll à la CHUCK BERRY, THUNDERS hit it off with Tortusa immediately. He became JOHNNY’s go-to guitar fill-in when touring Europe, then a core member of his UK-based backing band the BLACK CATS, and eventually the fourth axis in LA COSTRA NOSTRA, which was effectively a HEARTBREAKERS 3.0, alongside Jerry Nolan and Billy Rath. Listening through these nine sharp tracks, it’s easy to see why. The sound beautifully fuses old school rock with the artistic French punk of the era, decorated with tasteful touches of sax and propelled in equal measure by Tortosa’s tough guitars and Charlotte Catherine Peyre’s haunting vocals, except for their cover of “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” where Henri-Paul takes over mic duties as well, delivering a performance that gives THUNDERS a real run for his money. “Garden of Love” is a clear-cut example of the group’s equation, offering an electric balance of bright and burly drenched in wasted hit single potential. Tortosa also sings on the album’s fantastic title track, maintaining the rhythm amidst a wiry, decompressed mess which maybe best demonstrates his capacity for comfort within chaos; the very quality that led to him being called a “savior” in the liner notes to JOHNNY’s final studio album, Que Sera, Sera. It’s the grand finale in an undeniably impressive display.