Richard BodinI don’t know how I have missed them so far, but I did. Tankus —formerly known as Tankus The Henge— has been around for the past twenty years, and they produce the kind of music I simply love to hear. They blend various music genres into what they like to call “Gonzo rock’n’roll”. Think good psychedelic rock with hints of New Orleans Jazz mixed with gipsy influences from a long exposure to the world of funfairs and circus.
Led by frontman Jaz Delorean, Tankus is comprised of João Mello (sax and vocals), Dan Hipkin (bass), Jack Price (guitar), João Taborda (drums) and Russ Evans (trombone). Over the years, the band has been touring extensively across Europe, honing their skills and chemistry on stage. Playing around 100 concerts every year, Tankus have only recorded four albums so far. I recently stumbled upon their latest release, Valley of Distraction, to my greatest pleasure.
A Carnival of Sound and Spirit
The album opens with “Clapton Pond” where Jaz Delorean and João Mello share vocals. They sing about seeing all their friends being pushed away from the neighbours because of gentrification. They paint a festive picture of the place with a bouncy bassline and fuzzy guitars. The bridge goes on to explore more psychedelic tones with a groovy organ and horns… Gentrification is a curse when a neighbourhood loses the community that gives it all its appeal. So the band keeps asking “Tell me are ye happy?”. Ultimately giving the answer on the close: “everybody’s happy being miserable”…
The title track follows with a lengthy tale blending reverbed bluesy guitars, ragtime-like pianos and bouncy jazzy horn section. It gives a strong dramatic dimension to the song as it finishes on flourished climax or swirling horns. This really sets the tone and gives a good glimpse of what Tankus are about. It further explores psychedelic grounds with an extravagant theatricality on songs like “The Endless Way”, “Negroni, Baloney” or “One Foot In Front of The Other (Mr Cracked Kaleidoscope)”.
A few highlights
One the album’s stand-out moment is without question the beautiful and very moving “That’s Something I Never Thought I Would Do”. The slow ballad shines in all its restraint with just a piano and few sparse strings arrangements. Jaz Delorean’s voice cracks as he sings about a long lost —but never forgotten— love that was unfortunately left behind. The song reaches an emotional peak as it closes the first side of the LP.
My little favourite is the more electric “Fountain of Youth” exploring the love between two people in a world moving too fast around them. The slow-burn track builds up progressively toward lush and intricate arrangements on the chorus and bridge, and climactic close. The melody is a perfect earworm that will end up in your head for the rest of the day.
An Open Door
Compared to its predecessors, Valley of Distraction takes its time, and is all the better for it. The band allows space to explore its themes, placing human interaction and community at the centre. The arrangements feel more refined, thanks to producer Jim Sclavunos, (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Grinderman). Yet it never loses an ounce of the identity Tankus have forged over two decades, building a dedicated fanbase across Europe.
In a commissioned piece for Clash Magazine, Jaz Delorean reflected on music in a post-Brexit, post-Covid world: “When you want to get back to singing and grooving with strangers and lovers and friends, we will be somewhere doing that, and the door is open.” That spirit runs through this record: a band of friends playing, singing, and grooving together, extending that same open invitation to anyone willing to step inside. I’m glad I found that door.
