We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
Reviews by Pete Whalley
DARK STARES Tell Your Friends EP
Any band that deploys female backing dancers on their debut video has to have a
certain element of 'class'. It may not visually be quite up there with the
Robert Palmer's 'ladies', but it's nevertheless a extremely effective
accompaniment to Whisky - a swaggering British blues /rock number that has a
real 'back to basics' feel.
With hugely catchy melodies, plenty of air guitar friendly riffs, vocals
delivered in a Kelly Jones style and with John Mitchell on recording and mixing
duties, the 4 track ep is an assured debut from the St Albans based four piece.
But 'We Are The Kings Tonight' - a the slow brooding number with a subtle
'twang' undercurrent is probably the pick of the crop, suggesting that Dark
Stares are no one trick ponies and may well have the potential to successfully
straddle that tricky rock / pop dividing line. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
MONUMENT VALLEY Tongues EP
Inspired by classic 1950s rock and roll, Postcard-era indie-pop and the
modern poets of hip hop, London born Ned Younger's 4 track debut ep is a male
pop at the Kate Nash audience.
Delivered in a gentle, semi spoken style, it's an introspective and reflective
EP that tells imagined stories spoken by strangers' 'lost' photographs, which
Younger amassed from markets and car boot sales.
It may not be rock, and aimed squarely at the Belle & Sebastian, but there's no
denying a certain charm. ***
