At the start of the 80s while punk, post-punk, new wave and synth pop were taking off around the world, three New Yorkers took the charts by storm with vintage rockabilly and a complete fifties look. Slick quiffs, garish tattoos, guitars and double basses, the Stray Cats approach this no-longer popular genre with a stunning expertise and a respect for the tradition. At the helm, with his dazzling Gretsch, Brian Setzer sings the same way Eddie Cochran crazily plays his guitar. After a 26-year recording silence and to celebrate 40 years of their career, the trio has returned to the studio. We come out of 40 remarking that neither time nor the wrinkles have tainted the energy of these Cats, who are still as wild as ever. Setzer's voice is a little more burnt, but his playing remains frightening. The same goes for the rhythm of drummer Slim Jim Phantom and double bassist Lee Rocker, who are as lively and punchy as they were at the beginning. No major revolution for this impeccable 60-year-old rockabilly fiesta, but who would want to hear the Stray Cats try their hand at Auto-tune or math rock? © Marc Zisman/Qobuz