POP MUSIC REVIEW : Faith Healers Hurtle in Place

When the English band Th Faith Healers launched into its first song at the Whisky on Thursday, it was like being instantly materialized on a train hurtling through a tunnel. The opening song, “Moona-ina-Joona,” is all momentum and no direction, a simultaneous feeling of motion and stasis created by just two furious riffs and two short lyric lines over and over again until they practically entwine with your DNA.

It’s mantra-rock, something like the Velvet Underground playing James Brown’s “Night Train” would be. Yes, it’s one-dimensional, but it’s also exhilarating, building equal feelings of anticipation and dread.

What’s missing (besides the e in the band’s name) is a visual representation to match the music. Singer Roxanne Stephen thrashed about some, flinging her hair over her face, but never really giving a presence to the music.

At the other end of the dynamics scale was opening act Congo Norvell, a Los Angeles quintet fronted by guitarist Kid Congo Powers, a Gun Club and Nick Cave alum, and hearty-voiced singer Sally Norvell. The group’s dark jazz-blues-torch songs were dramatic, involving and evocative--perfect for the next Wim Wenders or David Lynch movie.

Th e Faith Healers play tonight at Bogart’s in Long Beach.