There’s a lot of respect for the Open Room lads, not least for landing the job of opening for Delays but for doing it justice. Sounding out electronic beats immersed in indie, they’re not unlike the headliners, but could be easily patched as a smartly dressed Enter Shikari. They’re a youthful group but boast some […]
The perfect choice for a festive night, youthful Jonny Dare filled the stage with tinkling electro-indie and funky trumpets. Slow starting, but quickly shaking off any dreariness with their Pogues style xylophone. Six members, and a collection of instruments including a mandolin and accordion, left them pretty rigid and lacking enough on stage energy and […]
It’s impressive to be on your 4th record at just 19, but it seems that the latest edition could have done with just a bit more attention beforehand. Peter Lyons has somewhat of a strange sound to him; it’s almost chill-out but far more emotional. There are moments that make you focus and really understand […]
It’s hard not to smile when you hear this youthful band; they’ve got charisma and a great sense of fun injected into their punk-rock style. Despite the title ‘Tragic’, the first track picks up your spirits, which has probably something to do with the bold female vocals. In fact, it’s an EP where each song […]
Something about Lee Roger’s voice is commanding and coarse, just like blues should be, as if roughened by years of cigarettes and Jack Daniels. ‘Drawing Clocks’ is gentle but regularly ventures into some real, raw blues-rock. He’s indecently talented and there’s some brilliant stuff here. Nifty finger work on the acoustic strings is nothing but […]
It’s hard to criticise the music for either tracks on William’s debut single, but the vocals seem to have an unsuccessful Jack White tint and are mainly spoken rather then sung. Musically, on ‘Five Minute Wonder’ they’re a great mix of upbeat and chaotic rock ‘n’ roll but I found it difficult to take the […]
A wet and miserable October evening saw rockers and emos alike gathering for cover in a venue less roomy than a cardboard box. A View From Nowhere took the stage first and from the offset it was clear that they could handle a much bigger stage, easily deserving a bigger audience. They look the part […]
You can’t deny Deeprock’s catchiness from the offset; they’ve got a strange and unique quality to them. The album is charismatic in itself and you’re intrigued from the off. Most tracks have an almost chill-out feel which breaches into dance-esque features and works surprisingly well with the vocals. Lyrics can be sparse at times but […]
Taking the name of an old Toto song, opener ‘Hold the Line’ pairs a slow paced intro with some heavier and disjointed music. The singer has such a young voice, it makes you wonder why the EP lacks the force and energy of youth. ‘Expiry Dates’ has an almost electronic feel, a theme that they’ve […]
An eighties style intro to ‘World Gone Daft’ will force you into either the love or hate category. An opening that, if it weren’t for the vocals, you’d put money on it being early Bon Jovi. Just a four song sample of the full album, Circumstances of the Present World, becomes more enjoyable if you […]
Here comes the madness. At only two tracks long their demo squeezes every ounce of life out of both. A pumped up intro falls into place amongst Velvet Revolver style twinges and punk tendencies. The vocals are so gritty you can practically see the lyrics being spat from Sam Barton’s mouth. At times he can […]
What they lack in members they make up for with some serious song writing skills. A three-piece with a much larger sound, Proton Proton experiment with just about anything they can get their hands on and even throw in a bit of drum and bass amidst rocking out. For a second release, Proton Proton are […]
Wakeover pick such an apt name for their opening track. ‘Clarity’ showcases a young and fresh sound clarifying their potential and talent through its easy going music and aptitude to pace changing at sudden turns. The vocals powerfully inject emotion, helping to save the song from the absence of a hook. A talented guitar player, […]
‘Ancient Sins’ provides a sinister opening to what appears to be a promising EP, with its lonely guitar strums that could make even the most cold-hearted shed a tear. A beautiful voice pitches in above backing vocals that can only be described as whispers. Although, when the duo of lead vocalists join together they seem […]
As a follow up to their successful debut EP ‘Feel’, ‘Euro Pop’ dips its finger in so many musical elements it’s a surprise if it doesn’t appeal to all walks of life. Dialog’s varied origins include Spain, Bulgaria and Austria, undoubtedly helping their creativity and unique sound. The title track ‘Euro Pop’ kicks off the […]
It’s hard to box Paisley Riot into any one category. An energetic four-piece that show clear signs of such a wide range of influences leading to lively, guitar dependant music. They have a great deal of talent and are a welcome distraction from all the wrist-slitting and Satan worshipping that seems to form the foundations […]
Ultrasonic’s style wouldn’t exactly be my first choice from the CD rack, so I can’t pretend to be up to date with all things hard-house and electronic. However, their first album in seven years, ‘Annihilating Rhythms’ just goes to show how some things in life are worth waiting for. Ultrasonic teamed up with production duo […]
Plastik kick off with ‘Teenage Prologue’ that, on first impressions, leaves you with thoughts of a band of happy, clappy punks with a penchant for quirky pop hooks. But then again, you’d be mistaken. Each song stands alone, bridging the gap between pop symphonies and rock riffs. Cobain like vocals (at times) puts a droll […]
The Composers ease you in gently with an upbeat tune in the form of ‘A Way of Being Free’. After the vocals hit some high notes that Justin Hawkins would be in awe of, things are brought swiftly back down to Earth by a collision of drums and guitar. A fantastic intro and some Morrissey […]
Their noir-esque eccentric songs could be described as twisted and occasionally, beautifully angular. A set of heartfelt melodies paired with some punchy riffs that tend to be put on the back burner in favour of the electronics. Think Coldplay vocals meets video game sound effects and you’ve got the chilled out vibe that these guys […]
The third EP from Nothing balances some slow melodic tracks with some hard hitting drums and guitar. Think a blend of grunge and melodic rock and your on your way to Nothing’s style. So, as you would expect ‘Splints and Oxygen’ has some mean riffs and dynamic melodies but it is also distinctive and clean […]
Boasting an English folk-tinged voice that could melt your ears, Marsha’s hypnotic ‘Losing Me’ demonstrates just how talented a singer/songwriter she is. A gifted musician that could make even the most macho of men reach for those Kleenex. ‘Losing Me’ is a simple construction, with a fragile acoustic rhythm, greatly expressed and is so sentimental […]
Chaz Craik, otherwise known as Stillman, has played nearly every instrument on this release and can therefore, quite literally, be called a one man band. However, the songs on offer here almost give the opposite impression with the layered vocals giving way to interwoven guitars and synths, producing delicate and relaxing melodies – the short […]
The first thing that hit you about Centrifuge is that their laid back and stylishly effortless vocals have a Muse-esque quality. Fortunately though, musically Centrifuge are much heavier and more talented. The suggestively named ‘Brothel’ chaotically introduces the band’s style with the high tempo and hard hitting sounds giving you an idea of how these […]