When Kurt Baker relocated from Maine to Madrid, he embarked on a very important musical journey. Not only did the formation of The Kurt Baker Combo allow him to experiment with a slightly rougher garage rock sound compared to his US based KB Band, but he also stretched out further, collaborating with power poppers Bullet Proof Lovers, sharing some excellent punk as a member of the K7s, and even appearing on recordings by Spanish punks Neuvo Catecismo Católico. In all, it was a massively prolific time.
As it turns out, Kurt actually managed to record a complete album during the lockdown of 2020 too, before returning to the US, the recordings for which have remained unreleased. Plans are afoot for the whole album to reach the fans but, in the meantime, Baker – in conjunction with US label Wicked Cool Records – have shared ‘Wonder Woman’, a track that, according to Baker’s PR team, taps into “full throttle 70s rock and superhero women”.
The 70s influences are as subtle as a brick in the face from the off, when ‘Wonder Woman’ opens with a Peter Criss-esque drum part, before introducing a guitar riff that shares a love for parts of The Runaways’ debut, which seems only fitting, given the subject matter here. As things progress, though, the audience will hear more of Baker’s typical melodicism cutting through. The verse pitches a distinctively curly vocal against a steady groove augmented by cowbell, before Kurt and his band explode into life on a harmonious chorus that blends his signature power pop cool with a heavy 70s sound that aims for pure retro thrills. A couple of spins bring out the best in a big hook, too, making this classic Baker, despite a stylistic shift. Despite so many strong elements, the track is in danger of being overshadowed by a huge riff that fills the middle eight, showcasing an unavoidable influence from Slade, which Baker absolutely nails. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course…
Providing some continuity, the flipside goes even more deeply into Slade territory, with Baker unearthing the Brummie band’s 1977 deep cut ‘When Fantasy Calls’ (originally found on 1977’s ‘Whatever Happened To Slade’). The arrangement he’s chosen mirrors the original track in almost every respect; the opening riff hits with a heavy edge, its distorted guitars and fuzz bass sounds tap into a more aggressive brand of glam, and the riff itself delivers a huge swagger that’s loveable from the off. A blues drenched lead guitar break takes everything further into the realms of pure retro coolness, and a great production job brings out the best in a superb drum sound. Naturally, the big difference here comes via the vocal. Baker isn’t a match for Noddy’s Holder’s rawness and bombast, but he wisely never tries to be, and instead chooses to share a louder take on his usual tones, hidden behind echoing filters to bring out even more of a retro sound. It would’ve been so, so easy to wheel out one of Slade’s hits and crowd pleasers to flesh out a b-side, but Baker shows his true fan credentials with this recording, not just by picking an album track, but by picking one from one of Slade’s “fallow periods” in terms of popularity. It’s to his credit that he absolutely throws himself head first into the number, too. Even if you’ve never heard the original cut, there’s a lot here to enjoy.
The brazen 70s influence cutting through these tracks shows a very different side to Kurt Baker’s talents, sharing sounds that some of his fan base mightn’t be used to, or perhaps, even be expecting. However, both recordings capture a great sound – an exciting sound, even – and a musical strength that suggests there’s a lot of musical mileage to be had from Baker’s insistence of looking backwards. These are tunes to be cranked at serious volume for maximum enjoyment. Lovers of great retro rock will not be disappointed.
August 2026