We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
Reviews by Nikk Gunns
SANGUINE Live EP (www.sanguineband.com)
Available as a free download from the band’s website, this 5 track live EP was a
bit of a surprise as I was not expecting the female vocals as opening track
'Simplify' started. Don’t get me wrong they are not out of place, I was just
expecting some hairy assed bloke to come in growling, and instead the voice of
Tarin Kerrey appeared.
It is that voice which makes Sanguine stand out and the band have already
supported the likes of Megadeth, played at this year’s Download Festival and had
Kerrey appear on the debut album from Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith’s new
project Primal Rock Rebellion - I should also add that guitarist Nick Magee has
also been writing with In Flames.
Apart from the first track, the tracks on the EP are previously unreleased - the
others being 'Bangkok Nights', 'Days Outnumbered', 'From Home' and 'Paradise'.
Sanguine are clearly a band to keep an eye on. ****
Review by Nikk Gunns
THEA GILMORE
Sailor
I’m not sure Sailor would have been my choice for
second single from the excellent Don’t Stop Singing album that sees Thea takes
unfinished Sandy Denny lyrics and setting them to music.
Sporting her usual cast of supporting players Thea's taken Denny's lyrics,
absorbed them, and then delivered them in her own style but with more of a nod
than usual to the folk scene when Denny was a member of Fairport Convention and
the first UK female singer/songwriter to secure a major record deal.
It's a gentle, at times solemn, and always respectful piece of
work and one that deserves wider recognition. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
LUKE GIRVAN Take
Me To The Doctor
The debut single from singer songwriter / guitarist Luke Girvan is a
confident and punchy affair. While stated influences include the likes of
Zeppelin, Floyd and Queen, Take Me The Doctor is a difficult song to pigeon
hole.
A hugely infectious number it stands just on the rock edge of pop and the brass
accompaniment results in a sound somewhere between a meeting of Roxy Music and
Robert Palmer. If his forthcoming debut album lives up to this standard, Luke
Girvan could be one to watch. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
LIZ LAWRENCE
Oo Song
A pleasant little ditty from London based singer
songwriter that brings to mind both Ed Sheeran and, in particular, Eliza
Doolittle. It has ‘chart success’ stamped through it like a bar of Brighton
rock.
Still only 21, and with her talents honed in punk and ska
bands, she’s been snapped up by Sony so we can expect a big push sometime soon.
***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
BEN DALBY Tact
'Tact' is the latest single from Ben Dalby who has been gaining radio play
steadily over the last couple of years. His style is described as eclectic which
is fair as this latest release combines a bit of jangly indie rock with a ska
horn section which come together to create a unique, happy sounding track which
should ensure further airplay. One for the summer - if we ever get any sun!
***
Review by David Wilson
HELD BY
HORSES In History
The second EP from the Chelmsford female fronted five piece, Held By Horses
is, to my mind, something of a missed opportunity.
The sound on their five track EP is heavily guitar dominated, so much so that
for the most part the ‘sweeping vocals' of singer Harriett Reynolds are crowded
out. Whether is was a deliberate ploy to bury her so deeply in the mix only the
band will know, but it does mean the vocal melodies and hooks struggle to make
any real impact.
That might just about be acceptable if the guitar playing was virtuoso rather
than simply workmanlike. But that's not the case here and it's only when the
wall of sound occasionally parts that glimpses of promise peek through.
On this evidence it's hard to see the band - who sound like a neutered Dolores
O'Riordan on speed - breaking far beyond the pub / club circuit. **½
Review by Pete Whalley
REBELLIOUS JUKEBOX Killer On
The Dance Floor
(GMD Records)
Art-house rockers Rebellious Jukebox are currently recording a 12 track album
and have released this single as a taster of things to come. Listening to
'Killer On The Dancefloor' though would not have me rushing to hear another 11
tracks as it is a bit dull, sounding like the Psychedelic Furs on a grey day. I
could well see a jukebox rebelling against this one. *½
Review by David Wilson
WHERE SKELETONS PLAY Generation Wars
Formed in 2011 as a studio project by duo Stitch and Bones, this EP is their
first release. The music they produce sounds like Tool with phased vocals. The
EP contains 5 tracks, most of them clocking in at over the 6 minute mark and to
be honest I found it a bit of an ordeal to sit through. The tracks are overly
long with not a great deal of content whilst the phased vocal, a pet hate of
mine, very quickly gets on your nerves. Not one to rush back to. *½
Review by David Wilson
THE CITY DIVIDED The Endless Moment
When I read a band's blurb and it mentions pop rockers Busted, I do fear the
worst. The City Divided do sound like a young outfit and were formed back in
2009, possibly straight out of school . They do sound a rung above Busted on the
rock ladder though, having more in common with Enter Shikari and others of that
ilk. They do have some decent riffs, but it is very 'metal-lite' , Maiden turned
all the way down to 2 perhaps. Not bad, but nothing new and a bit more meat to
the sound wouldn't go amiss. **½
Review by David
Wilson
BLASKMAGICSOCIETY Our Time (Keep It Heavy) (W.A.R Records)
This is the debut single by Blakmagicsociety taken from their forthcoming album
U.A.T.W.M.F. The band play a 60's tinged garage rock which isn't too bad. This
track however is very repetitive although it only clocks in at just over 3
minutes, which doesn't say much about the bands song writing prowess. Hopefully
the album will prove to be a better listen. *½
Review by David Wilson
