The Mojomatics: Don’t Pretend That You Know Me

If the Flamin’ Groovies (circa ’73) had been placed in a pressure cooker, put on simmer and reduced to a duo, Italy’s the Mojomatics could very well have been the end result. MojoMatt Bordin (vocals/guitar/harmonica) and DavMatic (drums/percussion) play melodic garage rock that’s informed, in near equal measure, by the wilder side of mid-’60s British rhythm and blues, some stonking rockabilly and blistering proto-punk glam that never sounds derivative on their third album Don’t Pretend That You Know Me.

Opening with a respectful nod, riffage-wise, to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” on the album’s single “Wait a While”, the dynamic duo (since expanded to a dynamic trio with Gabriele on bass) from Venice storm onward with a dip into the Mississippi on the superb Delta belter “Askin’ For a Better Circumstance”, pull out all the stops on the short but oh so sweet rampaging punk of “You Are Not Me (Fortunately)” before closing the album in some style with the staccato powerpop of “Winter Got No Eyes”. With 12 originals in 30 minutes — these guys don’t stop to take prisoners.