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NFD Light My Way Jungle JUNG068CD (2006)
Taken from their new Dead Pool Rising album, this single is a good listen, and typifies the combined gothic stoner approach.
Bassist Tony Pettitt is former Fields Of The Nephilim / Nephilim, and the track is a dark sometimes spooky affair with a catchy rhythm.
Two mixes, and the track 'Unearthed' is a little lighter, with a more U2 styled rhythm, but still very much at the dark stoner end.
A tasty sampler that fans will enjoy. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
KING FURNACE Crash! (CDS 2006) Website
Three piece UK based ban who formed back in 2004. The title track 'Crash!' is a glorious mix of classic Talking Heads and XTC. This really is a cracking tune! 'Blemish' again keeps the high standards.
Only 'Making of Me' misses the mark although the guitar riffs are rather splendid.
There are many bands out there vying for your attention but I would recommend you try King Furnace as they have an eclectic style, rather than just another Coldplay/Arctic Monkeys clone. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
MILKE She Says (Fat! Records)
Milke are DJ/breaks producer Friendly and fellow Australian vocalist/guitarist Ra Khahn. And She Says is a reworking of the underground hit Le Dust Sucker ‘Mandate My Ass and a song written by Friendly.
It's a huge slab of melodic funk over a driving dance beat and although dance isn’t my cup of tea, this is a classy affair that should have the danceflors of Miami and Ibiza smouldering.
Review by Pete Whalley
STORY OF ONE Out Of Season Shy Records (2006)
With an unusual line up of guitar, bass, drums and violin, Nottingham's Story One add a welcome twist to the new wave of Britpop.
Out Of Season – their second single – shares several DNA strands with the Arctic Monkeys Mardy Bum, but has a more gutsy rock and roll feel.
Produced by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro), Out Of Season is an excellent number, suggesting Story One could be 'one to watch' in 2006. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
THE ANSWER Into The Gutter Albert Productions (2006)
Take hard indie rock, and add elements of sleezy rock'n'roll a la AC/DC and Led Zep, it's a real heads down head banger and a lot of fun with it too.
Rough'n'ready slide guitar, it's dirty too, but with clean production, it's a lot of fun.
If this is anything to go by, the album should be good. ****
Review by Joe Geesin
NFD Light My Way Jungle JUNG068CD (2006)
Taken from their new Dead Pool Rising album, this single is a good listen, and typifies the combined gothic stoner approach.
Bassist Tony Pettitt is former Fields Of The Nephilim / Nephilim, and the track is a dark sometimes spooky affair with a catchy rhythm.
Two mixes, and the track 'Unearthed' is a little lighter, with a more U2 styled rhythm, but still very much at the dark stoner end.
A tasty sampler that fans will enjoy.***
Review by Joe Geesin
BIZ Long Way Down (2006)
I predict Biz will be a success story in 2006. Why? Simple, he has a voice that makes you sit up and pay him attention coupled with songs that plea for repeated listens.
If you want someone with more talent in his little finger than overrated rubbish like James Blunt then Biz is yer man. Glorious! ****½
Review by Jason Ritchie
UXL Beautiful Today (2006)
Four piece band form Birmingham (UK) whose three track debut single is not bad but nothing special either. Musically it is all there - crashing guitar, tight rhythm section and heartfelt vocals but it just lacks that vital 'wow' factor to make UXL stand out from a very crowded marketplace. Close but no cigar! **½
Review by Jason Ritchie
ADAM KESHER Where's My Place Cherie Machine (2006)
Adam Kesher is the latest in a line of French exports hoping for a place in the UK Premier League.
Bordeaux based, they're described as a digital lovechild of Joey Ramone and Debbie Harry born of the CBGB mid 70s era.
To me, it's more off the wall in a Talking Heads way. Driving funky rhythms and irritatingly catchy, I can imagine Where's My Place would be a riot live.
Having built an underground following in France they're about to cross the Channel. But whether they're in the right time zone, only time will tell. ***½
Review by Pete Whalley
THE CONCRETES - Chosen One EMI (2006)
Chosen One is the debut single from the Concretes eagerly awaited new album In Colour.
Produced by Mike Mogis (Rilo Kiley) Chosen One is one of the pick of the bunch from the album - it's uptempo, jaunty pop/rock with enchanting Cardigan-esque vocals. Perfect indie folk/pop.
The B-side is a non album track - Reverberation - and more of the Concrete's quirky folk which would sit comfortably alongside any of the album material. And finally a word for the digipack which complements that of the album - a lovely piece of artwork.****
Review by Pete Whalley
OPPENHEIMER - Breakfast in NYC Smalltown America (2006)
Breakfast in NYC is the title track from Oppenheimer (Shaun Robinson - vocals, drums, keys, guitars and Rocky O'Reilly - guitars, keys, percussion, Mac) - a schoolteacher and studio engineer partnership from Belfast.
It opens with glockenspiel before a massive bass beat and Scritti Politti vocals. Bitter sweet pop - a new Buggles?***
Review by Pete Whalley
THE BRIGHT SPACE - She Goes Disco Compact (2006)
She Goes is the second single release from London hopefuls The Bright Space.
It's melodic rock - a wonderful beat, great vocals and big hooks. What more can you want?
The Bright Space are currently on tour with The Like and OK GO. ****
THE VOOM BLOOMS Politics & Cigarettes (CDS 2006) www.thevoomblooms.com
Another band who have used MySpace to launch their career having formed last year.
Both songs on this debut single you can see doing well in the UK given the current success of bands like the Artic Monkeys. Not bad tunes at all - hints of the Cure in the vocals and any band that borrows a Big Country riff to open 'Thoughts of Rena' can't be bad my book! Keep an eye on the charts! ****
Review: Jason Ritchie
LOVEMAT Between the Lines (CDS 2006) www.lovemat.com
What a cool band name! The music ain't bad either - a mix of G 'N' R attitude with modern rock catchiness.
'Between the Lines' is a catchy little ditty that will sit in your head for days and has rocks like a mutha!
'Lost In the City' is what G'N R would sound like now if Axl had kept his head straight. Lovemat are not G'N R clones they just possess that rock 'n' roll vibe and I would imagine they would slay live! ****
Review: Jason Ritchie
THE VIBRANTS(EP 2006) www.thevibrants.com
Five piece band from London who join the growing ranks of modern bands steeped in classic rock but add their own twist, like the Answer or Roadstar. Vocally you are reminded at times of Elvis Costello especially on 'Bullet', whilst 'New Way' takes a Stones like riff and gives it a whole new life.
It is great to see so many new bands coming through that have influences from 70's and 80's rock bands but add their own style and sound. Sign 'em up now Mr record label!
Review: Jason Ritchie
OK GO A Million Ways
Odd that this should be released as the advance single for the rather good album "Oh No" when there are more commercial student dancefloor vibes to be had on the album, but with an amusing Fatboy Slim rip off video doing the rounds, it might get their off kilter melodic power pop noticed.
This is one of the more mellow numbers from a generally up tempo album, with a catchy hook, but lacking a bit in attitude.
Me, I'd have gone for the glam stomp of "A Good Idea At The Time" first, but that's why the record companies get the buck bucks. And they're always right! **½
Review by Stuart A Hamilton
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