Dex Romweber Duo’s “Ruins of Berlin”

Dex’s "Flat Duo Jets", the original kings of stripped down lo-fi 1950’s guitar and drums, disbanded a decade ago and “The White Stripes” and “The Black Keys” might have thought the two man band crown was up for grabs but Dex’s back with a fuller if mellower sound on his new disc "Ruins of Berlin" (Bloodshot Records). You won’t find as much of the blow it out rockabilly rave-up of the Flat Duo Jets on “Ruins of Berlin” but Dexter’s hinted at this new direction over the years with “Sing Sing Sing” (Flat Duo Jets), “Lonely Guy” (Lucky Eye) and “I Wish I Was Eighteen Again” (Red Tango) for example. The Dex Romweber Duo pairs Dex’s Silvertone guitar with sister (yes, she really is his sister) Sarah Romweber (of Snatches of Pink and Let’s Active fame) on drums as they rock, croon and growl through fourteen songs covering at least three decades of various musical styles and influences including lounge, folk, jazz and early rock. The tracks are split between Romweber originals and mostly obscure covers. The title track, “Ruins of Berlin” from the 1948 film “A Foreign Affair”, is a nod to Marlene Dietrich. Special guests include Rick Miller from Southern Culture on the Skids on the guitar instrumental “Lookout” and Chan Marshall aka Cat Power (“Love Letters”), Exene Cervenka (”Lonesome Train”) and Neko Case (“Still Around”) take turns dueting with Dex. “Ruins of Berlin” is a snap shot of American music from the decades of glowing radio dials and late night movies on black and white TVs. “Ruins" could earn Dex a spot on the Ed Sullivan Show or maybe even the Lawrence Welk Show in some weirder hipper parallel musical universe.

Thanks to Bloodshot Records you can download two tracks ("Lookout" and "Picture of You") for free and see if you don't agree with Dex when he says “We’re making original rock and roll, but fast and weird and throwing in different things. Let’s get it done, no bullshit."*

Download it, dig it and then buy the Dex Romweber Duo's "Ruins of Berlin".

* quote courtesy of Bloodshot Records