We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
THE EXITS Neon City
Ray Charlton (Vocals, Guitar, Synth), Mike Keating (Guitar Synth, Programming),
George Austin (Bass, Synth, Programming), Tom Poulton (Drums)
The Exits are a group from Portsmouth and have already performed at the HI FI
South Festival and have supported ‘Bez’ from the 'Happy Mondays' on tour and
‘Mani’ from the 'Stone Roses'.
Woah! What a big gulp of fresh beautiful air! Come on down fans of 'Stone
Roses', 'The Music', 'Primal Scream', 'Happy Mondays' and 'Janes Addiction',
‘coz you’re gonna love this!
80’s Synthesizers, cymbals, melodies and guitars, use ya melon man and get on
down to the groves of the lost classics of indie pop. I don’t know about you,
but I miss good classic Indie and this is must be one of the nest additions to
Indie for a very long time. Well, in my opinion anyway.
But wait, Electronica was also lost somewhere amongst cheesy pop and other
awfulness that we call good music nowadays; which would suggest to me that 'The
Exits' have pulled on 2 golden balls instead of one; which should round up the
fans from many a corner of genre.
All four tracks keep you listening straight from the start and I even got up for
a ‘Bez’ bounce on several occasions.
Another surprising new release for me and I now desperately want to hear the
synthesizers live, they will most definitely send the crowd wild!
Go check these guys out and I am sure you will agree that we do in fact need
'The Exits'. *****
Review by Fluff
REEMER Maniac
‘Maniac’ is the new single taken from pop punkers Reemer's up and coming album,
due out in October.
'Reemer' have been together for 3 years and have already featured on Channel 4’s
'Hollyoaks' and have already been invited to record a track for the 'Mighty
Boosh' podcast. They will be touring this summer including Festivals such as
‘Wakestock’ and London’s ‘Hard Rock Café’ only proving why they already have a
massive fan base.
When I pressed play on my CD player and ‘Maniac’ started to play; I was under
the assumption that this track was going to be like any other new release
currently boring us in the charts and on radio air play. However, I was proven
wrong with a mighty pelt in the ear drum, surprising me, that I do very much
like this new track.
It is bouncy, upbeat, and very catchy and certainly a summer
tune that deserves to be blown through your car speakers in the sun this summer.
(I want to play it loud and have a dance whilst holding my iced glass of cider
whilst sharing my happiness with friends!).
The B Side ‘Summer Sun’ is more melodic and calm, but classically written and
beautifully follows ‘Maniac’. Both tracks are completely different to each
other; showing the band’s easy diversity.
'Reemer' certainly know what they are doing already and I would be very
surprised if either of the two tracks does not make the Top 20 this year.
‘Reemer’ are hopefully going to go along a way and I’ll be following them as new
band that’s for sure! I can’t wait to hear the album in October! Good luck lads!
****1/2
Review by Fluff
THE LIGHTS The Score
With sub-Pat Benatar vocals and some intoxicating harmonies, The Score is pretty
damn fine melodic pop/rock. Built around some choppy rhythm guitar work all it
lacks is a few killer licks. And one suspects that played live this would be a
real showstopper. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
THE TALKS Picture This
Very catchy tune and one that reminded me of the Feeling in the vocals but
not the sound, which is more indie guitar led. A song you can easily see fitting
into daytime radio and the other song on here, ‘Faces’ keeps up the high
standard.
It is very hard for new bands to get established
especially with the short attention span of younger music fans but the Talks do
have an appeal across a wider audience and their debut album will certainly be
one to hear later this year. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
TEASING LULU Waste Of Time (Easy Action Records)
Punk
pop-rockers from Brighton, and produced by old stager JJ Burnel from The
Stranglers who knew a thing or two about high energy.
The band
is fronted by Lucy Dalton and this (and the additional track 'ex factor') is
highly infectious, bass-propelled fare. They could give that other hard rocking
Brighton outfit McQueen a run for their money, or at least a damn good cat fight. ****
Review by David Randall
THE BRIGHTLIGHTS 3
(Distiller Records)
What has Grimsby given us? Peter Mars
Cowling, bassist with Pat Travers. Dan Haigh, bassist with Fightstar. And lots
of fish (bass?). This offering from the town's latest hopefuls has a really excellent,
summer vibe and a chorus to die for. Leon Blanchard's vocals are distinctive,
the guitars jangle, and there's no avoiding an unashamed headbang.
The extra track, 'Another Night' has a stylish orchestrated ending. Produced by
Steve Power (Robbie Williams, Busted). ****
Review by David
Randall
BETH ROWLEY So Sublime
Taken from her charting Little Dreamer album, Beth - the latest darling of the
Radio 2 / Norah Jones brigade - releases her 2nd single.
What you get is quality home grown adult orientated pop with the chorus, to my
ears, reminding me of Minnie Ripperton's Loving You.
So while it June not break new ground, it equally won't scare the cat, or wake
Granny from her afternoon nap. Quality stuff. ****
Review by
Pete Whalley
AYREON vs. AVANTASIA Elected Inside Out
Apparently Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) and Tobias Sammet (Avantasia) are bitter
rivals releasing their latest albums on the same day. Mmm...seems more like a
marketing ploy to get these two together to cover Alice Cooper's 'Elected'!
It is as you'd expect - an Ayreon song with Tobias adding his vocals. Also on
this EP are three Ayreon songs - 'E=Mc2' in acoustic mode, the album version of
'Ride The Comet' and 'Day Six: Childhood' which is a stripped down version of
piano and bass with vocals by Marjan Welmna. This alone is worth getting the EP
for!
One for fans - a bit of fun with 'Elected' and two
non-album tracks to further entice the fans in. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
BIFF CLYRO Mountains
Never ones to rest on their laurels, and hot on the heels of their highly
successful Puzzle album, Biffy will be releasing a brand new single in August to
fill the gap until their next album release in 2009. It's typical Biffy fare - a
gentle intro, before kicking in with choppy licks and a thunderous chorus.
Mountains June not break any new ground, but fans won't be complaining about
that. ***1/2
Review by
Pete Whalley
THE RYES How Come Loretta
London based The Ryes release their debut single How Come Loretta - a piece
of infectious summer pop from a band that are hotly tipped and have already
played with the likes of Scouting For Girls, and Ben's Brother.
The single is a cheeky little number with vocals reminiscent of Justin Hawkins.
And if they can come up with an album this good then The Ryes could be one of
the breakthrough acts of 2008. ***1/2
Review by
Pete Whalley
CHINA DOGS Social Breakout (EP)
www.myspace.com/chinadogs
This download (most sites) 4 track EP kicks off with "Social Breakout", which
for indie/pop/punk is a decent track and a move away (upwards?) from all the
usual strumming, and while it's not really rock, it does have a lot more balls
than most of the NME aimed singles of the moment.
Second track "Small Town Boy" builds in similar fashion.
There's more of The Clash in this lot than most young indie/punk wannabes.
I'll admit it's not my thing but a good score, so much better than the bulk of
singles I get, the plethora of others sound the same compared to this. ***1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
VANADIUM EP-ic
www.myspace.com/hatual
This 4 track EP opens with the blistering "Thin Ice", with a nod at extreme
metal and riffs influenced by Megadeth, 3 Inches Of Blood and Machine Head. As
the song progresses you get a that dark Sabbath sound with a neat guitar solo
over the top, before it's back to the crunchy extreme sound.
This 4 piece band feature twin guitars and fluctuate hard and
soft vocals; "Save The Day" has a more melancholy intro - imagine if Radiohead
did power metal?
Not as commercial as Iron Maiden or Megadeth
but a nod in the right direction. ***1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
ANDREW & KT DODGE The Wedding EP
Growing Old Disgracefully band member Andrew Ian Dodge wrote these two songs
along with John Haithwaite for his wedding last year to Kim Benson.
Obviously the songs are very personal and you do feel slightly like a voyeur on
the country tinged ‘New Moon Woman’ which sees Kim on lead vocal and being
honest I am not really taken with this song, slightly repetitive.
However, ‘Found’ is a much stronger tune and features Sacred Heart’s Paul Stead
on guitar. Worth a listen for sure and with a very clean production throughout.
***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
THE CEDAR FALLS Abandon EP
www.myspace.com/thecedarfalls
Metal 4 track EP with "Abandon" kicking off with a bass line. Nods at indie /
disjointed metal with plenty of emotion and melody, crunchy and loud in places.
"Twilight" is a similar track, "Unity" is more heads down punk metal in the
guitar line.
"A Place To Stand" is a decent acoustic number.
Good Kerrang! / Metal Hammer fair. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
MIDASUNO Sister Temptation
(Sugar Shack Records)
www.myspace.com/midasuno
Last year's album 'Songs In The Key Of Fuck' has already been getting rave
reviews, from Kerrang! and Rocksound to BBC Online. The opening track, the harsh
frantic and riff led scream indie/alt metal "Sister Temptation" makes for a good
single, if you like modern metal with a touch of electronic.
Touches of Queens Of The Stoneage and even The Wildhearts. Think of the
catchiness of The Foo Fighters but with even less finesse.
Bolstered by 2 live tracks, should do OK. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
K.O.KAINE Play To Ghosts
(Casket/PHD)
http://ko-kaine.110mb.com
A pretty full on and in your face metal album, the second full album from this
unit.
Opening track "We Are The Dead" really splits your ears with
some neat guitar work and heavy riffs, with the harsh screamed vocals giving
away the more extreme influences.
The bass work is very low, very heavy, and the drums crashing.
On "Woman Butterflys Snakes" the vocals are choppy and underneath the extreme
there are nods at Ministry, Deftones and Rob Zombie. The press release also
cites Motley Crue but this is a little harder to see. Yes there are some glam
rock moments but they are bubbling under a more industrial / contemporary sound.
"Faith Betrayal" does feature a keyboard break, adding a smooth prog metal
touch, before the crunchy guitars and growls return.
Should appeal to most modern alternative rock/metal fans. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
MATTAFIX Things Have Changed
Jamaican rhythms mixed with hip hop and crystal clear Charles and Eddie style
vocals are the signature of this second single to be released from Marlon
Roudette and Preetesh Hirji’s second album Rhythm & Hymns under the name of
Mattafix.
A quality world pop product that will brighten anyone’s summertime blues. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
OUT FROM ANIMALS The National
Curriculum
Based in Chester, Out From Animals are a cross between The Zutons and Arctic
Monkeys, with a hefty dose of punk and confusion thrown into the mix. The
National Curriculum is their debut release. Raucous, raw and explosive, but with
a few lucky breaks, these boys could be going places. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
THE HAIR Half Cut
A funky, jerky number reminiscent of Bowie's Fame period, but given an up to
date punk / indie makeover. But this York / Leeds based band are one of the more
original, well played and enjoyable outfits of this myspace era. And available
free to download, you can't sneeze at the vfm. ***
Review by
Pete Whalley
THOMAS WHITE The Runaround
(Drift Records)
www.myspace.com/thethomaswhite
Slow build, keyboards and strumming in anthemic fashion. Think singer/songwriter
does big sounding 80s pop/rock. Hard to place but a decent tune, multi layered,
solid yet soft. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
PRIMAL SCREAM Can't Go Back
(B-Unique)
Sampler for the forthcoming LP Beautiful Future, this track is a high tempo
indie pop track with a full sound, a touch of guitar and a gothic rhythm. Plenty
of "Wooo Woooo" backing vocals in the chorus, and an intentionally out of tune
sound on the guitar break.
If there's one Primal Scream record to break the pop crowd while remaining
classic Primal Scream, this is it, although I found 3 versions on the one CD
rather heavy going. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
DREAM CAPTURE Say What You Want
Dream Capture have been compared to pop/rock greats such as Fleetwood Mac and
Texas. And the Mac comparison is obvious to see - especially to the Time line-up
where Buckingham and Nicks had gone awol.
So what you get is a classy up tempo soft rock number with
vocalist Evette Judge's vocals falling somewhere between Christine McVie and
Sharleen Spiterri, but being as distinctive as neither. Pleasant enough, but
likely to go the same way as Time (which bombed). ***
Review
by Pete Whalley
BEN GLOVER & THE EARLS Things Haven't Started Happening Yet
The first single to be taken from his debut album The Week The Clocks Changed,
kicks of with a Doobie Brothers Long Time Running guitar line before morphing
into a modern countryesque pop/rock number.
It's no surprise therefore to find that the song was recorded
in Nashville where this sort of stuff comes of the conveyor belt every day of
the week. The b-side could so easily be Deacon Blue. You get the drift - not
unpleasant, but hardly ground breaking. ***
Review by Pete
Whalley
ERIC BIBB Spirit I Am
Taken from his new album Get Onboard, is a fusion of gospel, soul, r&b and pop.
With a great vocal and some compelling support this is classy modern soul from
the London-based American singer songwriter. It's the sort of stuff The
Christians might have attempted in their heyday, but delivered with more roots
authenticity. Classy. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
PAUL HEATON Mermaids & Slaves
Having split from his long time Beautiful South collaborator David Rotheray,
Paul Heaton returns with the title track from his 14th studio album. It's a
return to roots with a fresh, almost Housemartins / 10cc feel. But let's face
it, you're never going to mistake Heaton for any other vocalist and his writing
style is equally distinctive. As a result, this up tempo little jaunt would slot
comfortably anywhere in his extensive back catalogue. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
TEMPLETON PEK
No Association (Smalltown Records)
www.myspace.com/templetonpek
This band have already been getting rave reviews, including from Kerrang! and
Bruce Dickinson.
The lead track is a high speed indie metal with
plenty of grunge and hooks. Good range to the vocals - nice drum lines too. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
A BROKEN ROBOT Elliot
www.myspace.com/abrokenrobot
This 4 track single kicks off with the guitar indie of "Elliot", a choppy and
optimistic piece with some nice guitar work.
"Hey You Space Ranger" is better; if it was less choppy it would be reminiscent
of The Clash. "All Here" is a similar guitar pop / punk sounding number.
Sits somewhere between Kerrang! and NME. **1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
KARIN FANOUS Architect's Son
Up and coming singer-songwriter Karim Fanous releases his new single from his
debut album. In truth, it's basic acoustic singer songwriter fare that Cat
Stephens and the like were pedalling back in the 1970s.
But in comparison this is b-league stuff despite having Martin
Terefe (KT Tunstall, James Morrison, Jason Mraz) in the production chair and
Claes Bjorklund (Travis) requesting to play all the instruments. As for the
b-side Top Of The World, it's simply cheesy. Unlikely to win any 'originality'
wards. **1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
MAGIC ARM Widths And Heights (Switchflicker Records)
www.magicarm.co.uk
Reasonable indie pop, this band are playing the BBC Introducing stage at
Glastonbury this year, one man multi-instrumentalist Marc Riglesford is a master
of the tape loop, interesting horn sound and keyboards .
Single also includes a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "Ballad Of
Melody Nelson" which is worth checking out. **1/2
Review by
Joe Geesin
LAST MAN DOWN Killing Time (Karate Kid
Records)
www.myspace.com/lastmandownofficial
Guitar pop with nods at
rock and indie, and a distinctive hollow trebly guitar sound that seems to be
popular with kids at the moment. The track fills out and the vocals do wail
well.
"About You Now" is a cover, sounds familiar, probably better than the original.
It mentions Sugarbabes here but my knowledge of their music is scant to say the
hint.
Swap the tracks around, and strengthen the band to match the vocals and you
might have a hit. **1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE A
Blue Imagine (EP)
Project Seven Records
www.myspace.com/whatseatinggilbertgrapeband
Supposedly an
alt/rock band, but the opening track is more of a mess, to be honest. And at
over 35 minutes (2 tracks over 8 minutes) it's more like an album than EP.
The intro to the opening title track is the sound of a female orgasm in a
battlefield before some jangly guitars come in, and the metal mixes indie and
alt with a touch of extreme.
"I'm Always" features an interesting bass/drum rhythm, but whenever they have
that or a good guitar riff, they ruin it with some noise. Alt/rock isn't so
clever after all.
This band has too many influences, from Smashing Pumpkins to Aerosmith and even
Nick Drake. And it's all given a garage rock feel to the alt sound.
Some good ideas, in places well executed, but presented shabbily.
**1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
TRIPWIRES Just So You Know
www.myspace.com/tripwires
Melodic indie guitar pop with a vague rock feeling and customary jangly guitar
sound.
Enjoyable vocals, music more solid than most. Very retro but kinda enjoyable
with it. **1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
THE GET OUT CLAUSE Paper
www.thegetoutclause.co.uk
Want to make a budget video? This lot recorded under the watchful eye of
Manchester CCTV cameras, securing the footage through the Freedom Of Information
legislation. Novel idea. Check it out on youtube.
The music is competent strumming melancholy indie pop/rock, a nod at Radiohead.
It's OK, but should do well with the novel marketing. **1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
PAUL HAWKINS & THE AWKWARD
SILENCES
Don't Blind Me With Science
You Can't Make Somebody Love You Jezus Factory
www.myspace.com/theeawkwardsilences
Two singles here,
available for download in June and July respectively.
The first
"Don't Blind Me With Science" opens with some chaotic collective vocals (get
your mates to chant something in a pub), before you get some competent and
catchy if not quite in tune indie rock. Riff led, but a little repetitive.
"Gentlemen On Crutches" is more keyboard led, of the tuneless variety. Definite
home computer / bedroom feel. **
The second single kicks off with a retro keyboard riff and hand claps, definite
60s feel. The vocals ruin it by being sleazy and out of tune. "The Substitute"
is more electronica with a slowed disco rhythm and vocals more out of place than
the opening track. **
Listen online before you buy. Caution.
Review by Joe Geesin
NEPHU HUZZBAND Nurse! Nurse!
www.myspace.com/nephu huzzband
The lead track here is thankfully
short, too short for a single at under 1'30" (the later 'edit' is longer).
Touch of punk and new wave brought to guitar indie. Even a bit
of emo. A teenage bedroom affair, with applauds from The Fly and NME.
The second track "Lions Tigers & Bears" is slower, disjointed, and the drums
have too much treble.
As the lead track's chorus tells us, "Nurse Nurse come quick".
**
Review by Joe Geesin
KONG Blood Of A Dove/ A Hint Of
Rennit Innit (7" / download)
Brew Records
www.myspace.com/brewrecords
Dirge indie/metal/mess suitable
for anyone with half of the attitude problem the press release seems to have.
Half interesting guitar line, over what is effectively
disjointed sludge, music and press release equally incomprehensible.
I did not make it to the b-side, nor will I ever have that inclination. DIY
brain surgery is preferable. *
Review by Joe Geesin
VILE IMBECILES Bad Ideas
Bad Ideas is a free, digital and analogue audio service from Vile Imbeciles –
peddlers of junk funk death jazz. In truth, it is both vile, and a bad idea. I
can put it no more bluntly. *
Review by Pete Whalley
THE RRRS My Valentino/Forbidden Kiss
Golly gosh is this single crap…try as I might it really is a pile of poop!
The music is up tempo indie pop, nothing wrong with that but the vocals sounds
like Crazy Frog meets a female Charles Aznavour impersonator. They are awful,
sorry to say, and even sound out of tune on the choruses. Some music fans out
there will like this but I doubt there will be many of you…*
Review by Jason Ritchie
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