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REVIEWS

Gig Reviews - CD Album Reviews - CD Single Reviews


Gig Reviews (top)

ANGRY BADGER RECORDS SHOWCASE NIGHT. Orange Rooms – Thursday 4th June
Angry Badger RecordsSouthampton based record label Angry Badger Records are a label on the way up. Run by self confessed music obsessive Jules Aplin, the label are looking at as many ways as possible to expand and bring exciting new sounds to music lovers in the South and tonight’s showcase party promises to be the start of something big.

The release of 2 7” singles, in the shape of “Rise” by Southampton indie band Recreation and “Another Day” by Americana influenced Portsmouth outfit The Visitors gave Jules the perfect excuse to put on an event to showcase the bands he has on his label. And what a wonderful eclectic and talented bunch they are.

Kicking us off were Kodiak Jack whose liking for Velvet Revolver-esque riffs and funky basslines ensured everyone knew they were in for a good time. “My Fake Jesus”, with its hell for leather chorus, gave pint sized frontman Bryn ample opportunity to show off the kingsize voice he possesses whilst “Bunny Girl” mixes cheeky chappy lyrics with a huge wall of guitar led sound not unlike Soundgarden.

Andover’s In Darklight were next up. Immensely likeable frontman Ben Sellers takes every opportunity to thank the audience for coming, in between singing immensely likeable guitar pop tunes. Imagine Jimmy Eat World being fronted by Tim Burgess of The Charlatans and that would go some way to describing their sound. The killer melody and contagious energy of “Slaves” is proof enough of the bands potential.

Despite not actually looking like a band, when it comes to guitar based indie pop gems, Recreation are difficult to beat. When they plug in and start belting out tunes like festival-anthems-in-waiting “Open Up” and “Kids”, they are impossible to resist. Charismatic frontman Simon Paine looks like he is having the time of his life whilst bass player Anthony Fryers goes on a brief tour of the venue during the set. New single “Rise”, with its marching rhythms and uplifting chorus, goes down a storm and singalong favourites “Jade Harvey” and “Chemical Reaction” ensure cheesy grins all round.

The Visitors have been around for some time now. Gradually building up and polishing off their own unique brand of sun-drenched acoustic Americana, they sound like a band who mean business tonight. The summery folk of “Another Day” is a song that deserves to be heard by everyone. Ross Murphy and James Dyer’s clever interlinked vocals along with intricate yet passionate guitar playing are backed by Ed Hogston’s skilled steel guitar sounds. “Promised Land” recalls Ocean Colour Scene in their folkier moments and tonight’s closer, “Hold Back” sees James turn his hand to the saxophone.

Tonight was a resounding success for Jules and his Angry Badger crew. There is no shortage of talent around the South coast at the moment and tonight went some way to casting aside any remaining doubters there may have been. Exciting times lay ahead. Review by Paul Lane.


CD Album Reviews (top)

CONNETT – “Waging War On The Obvious”
CONNETT – “Waging War On The Obvious”Surrey based band Connett have only been playing live and recording together for six months. Steeped in Mod influences, their debut mini album “Waging War On The Obvious” boasts alarming potential for a band still in its infancy.

In fact, colossal opening track and lead single “Son” is so good that it lead none other than Paul Weller to offer his opinion on the track. “A lovely piece of work” stated the Modfather and who are we to argue with that? Mixing sitars with a lovely, raw guitar sound, backed up by rampant drums and a thunderous bassline, this is a song you simply don’t want to end.

The band also delve into slightly poppier areas too. “Perfect Melody” musically recalls an acoustic version of “Digsys Dinner” by Oasis. Performed with tongue firmly planted in cheek, the band are clearly enjoying themselves. The same could be said of “Lou”, a perfect soundtrack for those long, lazy summer days that lay ahead.

“Can’t You Hear Me” sees the band dream up the unlikely concoction of a Phil Spector influenced introduction with the good old meat and potatoes rock of Ocean Colour Scene. Glen Fuller and Steve Hanshaw provide energetic, aggressive guitar playing whilst never losing sight of the melody. Danny Maidens proves to be a very capable drummer, keen to flex is muscles at any given opportunity and Darren J Connett sings with a purpose and a style that makes every word believable.

Connett are a band with a clear idea of what they want and where they want to go. For a band that has only been together for such a short spell of time, this is a very exciting start. Hold on to your hats, this could be a hell of a ride….
Review by Paul Lane.

 

HOURS TIL AUTUMN – “Make A Scene” EP
Once you’ve supported Bon Jovi at the South’s biggest gig of the summer, where is there to go next? That was the dilemma facing Southampton band Hours Til Autumn. Having played a memorable set to warm up a sell out St Marys stadium crowd for New Jersey’s finest last year, the band decided to do what they do best – carry on playing live and take that energy onto an EP.

One listen to their “Make A Scene” EP instantly wants to make you see the band play live. Each song has a very “live” sound to it and a contagious, uplifting energy. “Believe” kickstarts with some guitar heroics followed by a rock anthem of a chorus that will not leave your head without a fight. This sets the blueprint for the rest of the EP. “Promises”, somewhat appropriately, introduces itself with what can only be described as a stadium rock riff from the 1980s before transforming into Hundred Reasons influenced Emo rock.

Best of all is “19 (Make A Scene)”. This song is HUGE. A rock epic in every sense of the word, it has so much going on that it keeps the listener does not know where to expect next. The fist pumping chorus bursts out of the speakers with almost terrifying adrenaline. Closing track “Maybe One Day” brings the curtain down on proceedings, following the same energetic blueprint which leaves us thirsty for more.

Hours Til Autumn (HTA for short!) have plenty of live dates coming up, including at the Talking Heads on 3rd July as part of the “Southampton Takedown”. This is an event which sees a number of local bands playing live to prove themselves worthy of supporting You Me At Six at Salisbury City Hall later on this year. If HTA are typical of the quality of the bands that are on show that night, it should be a great night! Review by Paul Lane.

 

THE ELVIS SUICIDE – “Sweethearts”
THE ELVIS SUICIDE – “Sweethearts”Violent band disputes, riotous gigs at disused nunneries and fetish clubs, using the money from winnings at the bookmakers to finance their new mini album, fabulously named band members like Rough Monk and The Ladies Choice…..The Elvis Suicide already have many ideas to share and tales to tell that would make for a fabulous biography. This love of the unconventional is reflected in their collection of songs about “girls and feelings and stuff” AKA blistering mini album “Sweethearts”.

However, power chord opus “Song For A Girl” introduces the album with heartbreaking lines like “the only thing we had in common is that we didn’t treat each other too well”. It’s dark, it’s moody and it’s menacing and it totally leads the listener up the garden path as it sounds like nothing else on the album!

The following 5 tracks are played with an insane amount of energy, it’s like the band have spent the last 3 days drinking nothing but Red Bull. They almost seem to be challenging themselves to fit a four minute pop song into a two minute slot! No song outstays its welcome. On the contrary, it leaves you baying for more, more, more!!

The hyper active “Turned Your Back On Me” through to the paranoid, schizophrenic and downright unstable “Hanging On The Edge” are raucous, riotous and phenomenally good fun. The curtain comes down to the drunken campfire singalong of “I Should Have Changed For You” and you suddenly realise that 7 tracks have whizzed by in just over 10 minutes!

“Sweethearts” was recorded in one day and it shows, but in a good way. It is a pure adrenaline rush. The Elvis Suicide’s next move is intriguing. Whatever they choose to do, expect the unexpected! Review by Paul Lane.


CD Single Reviews (top)
BY MARTIN SIRL

Single reviews coming soon. Watch this space!


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