Archive for the 'Rock' Category

Album – youngbored&broke – The Heys

Posted by admin on 29th April 2008

In all the years I’ve been heavily into music, there have been a few defining moments, that I can look back on and say, that was a good time in music history. For instance when Guns and Roses released the album Appetite for Destruction, or Nirvana released the album Nevermind. In the 90’s the Brit pop wars saw great albums from Blur, Oasis, Dodgy and the Verve. Whilst there’s been many albums since, there hasn’t been anything that really evoked that same kind of feeling. Until now.

I first came across The Hey’s via MySpace. The usual too and fro occurred and a week or so later, I popped the disk into my CD player and was soon blown away. There’s a rawness that is all too easy to compare to Oasis, and a sense of pop that is easily to lay at Blur’s feet, but there is also something else there, something that quite frankly I wasn’t expecting. To put this into context, I play many, many albums, but it’s not often I feel both exhausted and elated at listening to one in it’s entirety. Straight out of the gate with “Fridaynight”, it’s hard not to want to move, stamp feet, or bash the steering wheel on the car, as if you’re a virtual drummer in the band. For me though, one of the real defining tunes is “Elbowculture”, with that hint of laddish youth, that brings back memories of my own youth, going out on the pull, drinking quantities of alcohol, that now quite frankly would have me talking to the great white telephone for an age, and playing the latest Sega Genesis and SNES games. Yes I know, I have dated myself terribly, but hey, some of that reckless youth, still lurks somewhere deep within.

The relentless pace continues with “Pressure” which rolls over you like a wave of electricity, jolting ever neuron in you brain. After such a strong start, it’s nice that the album balances up and takes a breather with “Brightenupmyday”. To move between two extremes is something of a gamble, that doesn’t always work out, here though there’s a common thread that weaves between all the tracks, fast or slow. At the beginning of title track “youngbored&broke”, it kept threatening to break out into “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Rainbow. OK maybe that’s just my jaded view, but I just love how just a few bars can evoke those kinds of flashbacks.

With 14 tracks, it’s a really difficult album not to go through track by track and disseminate, but there’s really no need. This really is an album that comes along once in a blue moon. I’d love it if this marked the resurgence of British dominance, but this time in the indie scene. I’ve nothing but good words to say about every one of the tracks on this album. I left this album with a sense of sheer excitement and just cannot wait to see where the bands goes next.

On a final note, I would love to go to a gig where the band was playing, as I have no doubt that sheer electricity of the album would be amplified greatly seeing them perform live. The dogs bollocks, make no mistake.

Conclusion : I’ve made no secret in the podcast, that this is one absolutely phenomenal album. If this isn’t a band destined for great things, then there’s no justice in the world. Regardless of who you’re a fan of, if you like good rock and pop, this is a must have in your collection…. yes I’m talking to you. Pick up a copy NOW!

Posted in Alternative, Rock | No Comments »

EP – The Good Life – Tim Myers

Posted by admin on 24th April 2008

  • Band / Artist : Tim MyersmySpace
  • Genre : Pop / Rock
  • Sample Track Download : N/A
  • Buy CD : CD Baby
  • Buy Digital Download : iTunes
  • Rating : 9 out of 10

More and more music from indie artists is being used as incidental music in TV shows and more frequently it seems TV commercials. Off the top of my head I can think of the indie artists Ingrid Michaelson and Brett Dennen, and now Tim Myer’s who’s track “Beautiful World” is heard on the TV commercial for the department store, Target. This is the track that opens the 5 track EP and it’s such a great sound, pop mixed with a hint of melancholia. It seems that’s I’ve been wallowing in a little musical melancholia for a while, but it’s nothing new, remember I was raised on The Smiths and Leonard Cohen, small wonder that I am still here. This is a great opener, as it draws you in, and then packs the punch with the following track and indeed title track, “The Good Life”, which really reminds me of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, a song that seems to be influencing a lot of pop at the moment, not that it’s a bad thing, as ELO came up with some amazing pop tracks.

“Remember When (California)” has a more ethereal (man I love that word) sound and a more mellow tone. This is very much an EP that seems to be following waves, up and down, up and down, but it’s the mood and pace I’m referring to, rather than the quality, which is consistently excellent. This track also features some great female vocals, which work very well with Tim’s. Down and up, down and again up, with “On Your Side”, a great work of pop, but the vocals have a very different flavour, again reminding me of Ron Sexsmith, which doesn’t raise any complaints with me.

The final track “Magic”, has a different feel to the rest of the tracks, with a great brass track playing underneath the whole track, bubbling up at points throughout. On the whole a great EP, with some wonderful examples of catchy pop.

Conclusion : This is one of those early indications that summer is coming. Soon it will be time to put this CD on in the car, make sure all the windows are down and pump it out at full blast. There’s a nice mix of moods and pace on this EP and I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on an album from Tim in the near future.

Posted in Pop, Rock | No Comments »

Album – Escaping from a Submarine – Hollow Horse

Posted by admin on 20th April 2008

  • Band / Artist : Hollow HorsemySpace
  • Genre : Pop / Rock / Acoustic
  • Sample Track Download : N/A
  • Buy CD : CD Baby
  • Buy Digital Download : iTunes
  • Rating : 9.5 out of 10

Music for me is a real passion, but it’s a passion I was never really able to direct, as I can’t play any instruments very well, and though I’m told I have a great singing voice, can’t sing in public unless I’m suitable mellowed out with a good few drinks inside me. Then I discovered podcasting, as did many bands and artists, who sensed this new media was going to change the face of independent music forever and I finally had a way to indulge my music passion, but at the same time give something back to the music community.

I make no secret of the fact that Hollow Horse are undoubtedly one of my favourite Indie artists. They are among the few artists I’m fortunate to have built a great rapport with over the years. This, their third album, is a great example of a band, that knows who they are and chooses to refine their sound, rather than constantly try to reinvent it. What is interesting, is that as the band has evolved, so have my musical preference. Whilst I preferred their first album, “Five Year Diary”, over their second “Beggarstown”, and said as much in the review, 2 years later, I find it’s “Beggarstown” that is now my favoured Hollow Horse album. The time has come however for “Beggarstown” to move over and make way for “Escaping from a Submarine”.

Opening with “Run” the 60’s Byrds influenced guitar sound is there, as is the unmistakable vocals of Kenny Little, with just a hint of a Scottish accent making a welcomed appearance. This is carefully crafted pop, in the very best Beatle tradition. This is music that will certainly stand the test of time, as does all truly great music. “Ours for the Taking” again has that Beatles feel to it, especially the keyboards. I also love the acoustic guitar that opens the track. “Loving You” is a wonderful track, that opens very simply and builds nicely.

“Bluebell Wood (Angela’s Song)” was a track that quite literally mesmerized me. I don’t know what it was, but this song, managed to grab me in an instant, and all of a sudden, I was seeing the words of the song, played out in my imagination. I think it was about half way in, that I suddenly realised that I had been daydreaming, no mean feat when you’re standing at the bus stop waiting for a bus. Paul Rose, another artist previously reviewed on Indie Launchpad, provides guitar accompaniment on this track and this really helps to bring this track to life. There’s even a small guitar piece that’s very reminiscent of Jeff Lynne. “Making Bricks Without Straw” is another pint size classic, as is “Beg”. “Beg” along with “Run”, were the two tracks that Kenny released to podcasters before the album was released and while it gave a great flavour of what we could expect, my expectations were truly exceeded on a rather large scale.

“I Think I Made You Up Inside My Head”, is a real slow burner, not that I have anything against it, but I really love Hollow Horse when they have their powerpop hats on. “Blindsided by Love” speeds things up a bit, and really has the feel of a Squeeze song, and then comes “Under a Burning Star”. This is a bit of an oddity, especially for an album released in the Spring, as it most definitely has a Christmas flavour to it. It’s also a relatively short track, at just a tad under a minute.

“Escaping from a Submarine”, being the title track on the album, has a lot to live up to and while I initially thought that it was a bit of a slow one for a title track, it helps greatly that it isn’t also the opening track and as such, works nicely. I also love the little James Bond trumpet reference, very nice. “Sometimes Things Get Worse Before They Can Get Better”, must surely be right up there as a song title to get indigestion on, but man is it a good track, also benefiting from a little Paul Rose solo near the middle of the track. I also love the keyboard that swirls almost anonymously underneath the track in places.

The album closes with “Music from the Film, ‘Bullet Proof Sky’ – Suzy’s Theme”, another mouthful and also another track just under the minute mark. It’s a very whimsical track that feels very out of place, and feels almost like a bit of indulgence, but who care, it’s a wonderful piece and finishes things off nicely.

Conclusion : It’s hard to define what makes a song great. It’s even harder to try to pinpoint what it is makes a truly classic album. Suffice to say, this is an album that has great company, being in my mind one of the best albums, so far of the noughties (That’s the 2000 decade, for anyone wondering). Without doubt one of the finest indie bands around. Their music is finely honed and a sheer joy to listen to. Dare you not buy it?

Posted in Acoustic, Pop, Rock | No Comments »

Album – Mad Dog Howl – The Coggs

Posted by admin on 10th April 2008

Every now and again I get an artist, band or management asking if I’d be interested in reviewing their material. Sometimes although listening to a few tracks on MySpace can give me a flavour of what to expect, there’s nothing like listening to an album in full, to really make my mind up. So was the case with this album from the Coggs. I received an email from their manager, asking if I would be interesting in reviewing the bands latest album. While I like what I heard on MySpace, I wasn’t really chomping at the bit, to get the album in. I did however sense there was something about the bands sound that was going to be interesting, so I asked for a copy of the album, which duly arrived about a week later. On a side note, the band are also from Ottawa, so that was another incentive to really give the band a listen, as I really want to get out more this year and listen to some live music.

The first track, “Elevator” didn’t really appeal to me, with it’s rock and blues, infused with an interesting bluegrass inspired electric guitar. It didn’t turn me off, but by the same measure didn’t turn me on either. “A’int it Nice” is a more familiar sounding blues rock and it’s here that the album really starts to come alive. “Hideout” with it’s lengthy intro, seems to draw from many classic 70s/80s rock tunes, but it’s more gentle inspiration rather than blatant rip off.

This album, really has it’s twist and turns and there seem to be surprises everywhere. “Raised by Wolves” is full on, rock and this is where the band really seem to be at their most comfortable. The vocals are a little akin to an angry slur, but it really adds to the raw feel. The title track “Mean Dog Howl”, draws much from the classic blues rock guitarists like Clapton, in his John Mayall / Yardbirds days. It’s an incessant driving force that is hard to stay immobile to.

I love the vibe on “Pissin’ in My Ear” and it is in fact probably my favourite track on the album. It has a much lighter sound and reminds me of the great 90s band, Ocean Colour Scene. This for me, is where I feel most comfortable. While the hard rock tracks are great, I find it hard to relax and listen to them. This is much more melodic side of the band, and I understand that to concentrate on this style would probably drive a wedge down the middle of the band, but it’s just so much less demanding to listen to. “In Your Eyes” again is a more laid back track which further strikes home the point I made earlier.

“Eleven” is another of the tracks that really have that Clapton feel, but here it’s more in his Cream phase, which is certainly a compliment to the bands playing skills. “You Don’t Lie Well” rounds off this 13 track offering and it rounds it off with a bark rather than a whimper.

Conclusion : This is a band that I’d really be interested in seeing perform live. They have that aura of a band that would be quite stellar. I suppose there’s going to be little excuse not to, seeing as they’re virtually on my doorstep. While the heavier tracks would be amazing to listen to live, I feel the calmer, more melodic tracks are more suitable to an album. Again personal taste, but still this is a very well crafted and accomplished album, that showcases the band nicely.

Posted in Blues, Rock | No Comments »

Album – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Posted by admin on 9th April 2008

Nick Cave was one of those characters that quite frankly scared the bejesus out of me. Rational, maybe not, but sometimes you just get that air of something not quite right. I’m sure underneath it all he’s quite a likeable chap. However musically, it’s his mix of the dark and sardonic, that has held me at arms length. There have been brief forays, though. Actually in all honesty, I’ve only ever felt the need to purchase one of his albums and that was the 1994 release, Let Love In. I bought that for one specific track, “Do You Love Me”, which managed to really get under my skin during a mellowing out session with a friend, watching MTV all night. To give you an idea of the kind of night that was, besides the Nick Cave song, the other track that became almost an obsession was “Little Star” by Stina Nordenstaum. When you compare the two tracks, you’ll see what an extraordinary night it was. Any way I digress.

Apart from the one album, the only other real thing that caught my eye, was the track he released with fellow antipodean, Kylie Minogue, “Where the Wild Roses Grow”. An interesting diversion, but not really my cup of tea. And so we come to today. My friends over at Anti, previously sent me the album by Grinderman, another Nick Cave offshoot. While the voice of Nick is unmistakable, for me it was just too raw and sprawling to enjoy. When this latest release hit my inbox, again from Anti, it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I put it into the CD player.

The title track “Dig, Lazurus, Dig” greets you first and it won me over immediately with it’s mix of dark, emotionally charged vocals, with a hint of Jim Morrison and a driving beat. Nicks vocals are unmistakable, but there is an eloquence in them that I haven seen in a while, or maybe it’s just listening to them with friendly ears. So far all the chemistry is right, great opening track, which indeed is the title track and something I love, a title track that really shapes your expectations from the offing. “Today’s Lesson” has a much looser and melodic sound, but there’s still that quirk that lies underneath like a foundation on which all the tracks seem to resolutely adhere to.

“Night of the Locus Eaters” is an interesting track. Whilst I’m a huge fan of repetition, this one takes it to a whole new level. My brain kept yelling at me that this was a boring, monotonous track, but my heart fell in love with it. If you ask me why, I’d be buggered if I can tell you, but there’s that mesmerizing, hypnotic quality that just sucks you in. “Jesus of the Moon”, is a mellower track and indeed one of the shorter on the album. It has a very similar makeup to a few of the tracks on the album, but here with a twist of something more melodic.

“Midnight Man”, takes a slightly different turn, with it’s almost 60’s psychedelic sound. Thrown in the pot with Nicks vocals, and the result is something quite interesting, and fairly distinct from the rest of the album. “More News from Nowhere”, wraps up this 11 track album, with nearly eight minutes of classic Cave.

I’m so thankful sometimes that I work with some amazing labels and PR companies, that seems to know my tastes sometimes better than I do. While I’ve never professed to be a big fan of Nicks music, there is enough here to turn me into a real convert. It’s certainly given me the impetus to go out and discover some of the albums I’ve missed.

Conclusion : A wonderful album with which to reconnect with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. 14 years since my last dalliance, bur I’m certain it’s not going to be that long next time. A good solid and well constructed album, that contains a somewhat black heart with a scorching burning ember.

Posted in Alternative, Rock | No Comments »

Album – A Mad and Faithful Telling – DeVotchKa

Posted by admin on 31st March 2008

  • Band / Artist : DeVotchKamySpace
  • Genre : Rock
  • Sample Track Download : N/A
  • Buy CD : Amazon
  • Buy Digital Download : iTunes
  • Rating : 8 out of 10

Sometimes, some of the people I work with at various record companies, know my tastes better than I do. When I got in this album from DeVotchKa the first thing I thought, was it’s going to be some weird kind of World Music. I played it for the first time while driving to work and my suspicions were confirmed, the first track “Basso Profundo”, is suitably weird, with it’s unique blend of Rock, Ska, Spanish and Russian influences. To be honest, it didn’t set me soul on fire and I ejected the CD, to play the next CD in my pile.

Several months later, I was listening to one of the many music podcasts I subscribe to, when a really interesting track caught my attention. I’d missed who it was by, but listened intently as the track finished, only to find it was by DeVotchKa. Upon further investigation, it was also one of the tracks on this album. This reignited my interested, so I dusted off the CD, put it on again and started anew.

The first track, “Basso Profundo” still stood out as something quite unusual, but I started to detect other influences. It’s almost like a mix between The Specials and the Talking Heads, with some world influences thrown in for good measure. It’s certainly not my favorite track, but it is certainly enjoyable to listen to, and refreshingly different. The next track, “Along the Way”, again waives convention, featuring Mexican trumpets and acoustic guitars, but here things stated to fall into place. By the time the third track “The Clockwise Witness” started, I began to feel excited, wondering what this track would bring, I was not disappointed. Much more laid back, with a far simpler arrangement, I really began to listen to the vocals more and realised I was hooked.

Many of the tracks on this album, follow that Russian/Spanish flavour, which sounds quite bizarre, but you really begin to get into once you are a few tracks into the album. However for me the killer track, is the track that made me revisit this album. That track is, “Transliterator”. With it’s wonderfully delicate keyboard intro and strings, to the haunting, almost on the verge of madness vocals. The further you get into the track, the more you feel a sense of insanity looming. It’s quite breathtaking at times, but all through the track are brief respites, lulling you into a false sense of security.

“Blessing in Disguise” begins almost like the old standard “Tulips in Amsterdam”, with it’s oompah German brass sound. Sounds however can be deceiving, and that is pretty much a way to sum up this album. Just when you think you know what to expect, another curve ball is throw. “Undone” is another one of those tracks with despair laden vocals, but there’s something quite hypnotic about them.

The 10 track album ends with “A New World”, a more conventional rock track, well at least when compared to the rest of the album. The vocals again, have that hint of despair, which are further enhanced by the cello, underpinning the track. There’s also some great vocals half way through the track, with a wonderful softness and it’s hard to tell whether they are real or just a whimsy of some electronic instrument.

Conclusion : This is certainly not going to be to many peoples tastes, but don’t base your opinion on the first listen. Once it clicks, it really begins to grow on you like a wild, out of control vine. Certainly not your run of the mill rock album, but all the more interesting for it.

Posted in Rock | No Comments »

Album – Smoke and Clouds – William Hart Strecker

Posted by admin on 18th March 2008

If there’s one thing I can appreciate, even if I don’t like the songs, it’s the musical accompaniment, which here is fantastic. Fortunately the 13 tracks on William Hart Strecker’s new album are also pretty darn good too.

I’m always wary when playing an unsolicited CD for the first time, as I’ve mentioned numerous times before, but my trepidation soon vanished as the opening track “Round and Round” began to play. There’s something in William’s voice that at times reminds me of Tom Robinson and at other times reminds me of Steely Dan’s, Donald Fagen, with even a hint of Springsteen, interspersed here and there. It’s one of those pleasant voices that is very easy to listen to and follow. I did however have a slight pause for thought, when “Dreaming California” started to play, as I could detect a hint of latter day Dylan, and this is not a direction I wanted the album to take. Fortunately it was a false alarm.

Throughout the 13 tracks, there’s an interesting mix of influences, from country and blues, to rock and R&B, but it’s predominantly rock that is the glue that holds this album together. One of my particular favorite track is “Take Me Back” which is a poignant look back at memories of yesteryear. This is one of those tracks that really feels personal and auto biographical, whether it really is or not. It’s also a track I couldn’t help but play another half a dozen times or so, after first hearing it.

The final track “The Waiting’s Over” is a really simple track, with bare vocals, over a simple piano accompaniment and is a joy to listen to.

Conclusion : An album that really feels like someone’s soul has been immersed in it. At times upbeat and other times, reflective and thought provoking. This is not an album, I would have otherwise looked at getting in, but am glad it managed to find it’s way to me.

Posted in Classic Rock, Folk Rock, Rock | No Comments »

EP – Red Light Room – Johnny Bennett

Posted by admin on 17th March 2008

When I first listened to this EP, there was something about the vocals that stood out, not that they were in any way exceptional, but there was just something about them that I didn’t like. As has often been the case, coming back for a second listen much later, I found a totally different EP. Yes the vocals are distinctive, but it’s the music that really gives a great air to this release.

“Chance Meeting” begins the precedings, and it’s probably this track that could put some off. There’s an almost Verve/Richard Ashcroft feel to the track, which also reminds me of another Indie Launchpad favourite, Chance. It’s a track that I enjoyed first time around, but really came to love, upon revisiting the EP. “Red Light Room”, the title track, goes off in a slightly different direction, with piano accompaniment that really began to drive me crackers. Musically and lyrically the track is great, but the piano is just way too overpowering, whether it’s the mix or not, I don’t know, I just know that it began to resemble small bursts of someone scratching their nails down a chalkboard.

“Exit Sign” is a great track musically, with vocals that are very reminiscent of Bob Dylan. That’s either a good thing, or bad, depending on your Dylan preferences. For me it’s all good. Not too sure I like the sort of jazz, funk guitar work that pops up here and there, as it seems to take the EP off in yet another direction. “Where We Belong” again is a nice track, but the piano seems to be far too prominent. Whether this is because I usually listen using headphones, I don’t know, but their prominence could do with a little crank downwards. “This Year’s Life” completes a bit of a mixed bag, but has a real feeling of letting go, which I really enjoyed.

Conclusion : This EP could have been a real blast, but there’s just a couple of things that at times were like some form of audio Chinese water torture. Strip away the jazz funk guitar moments and turn down the piano so it’s not too overbearing and I would have loved this to death. As it is, it’s still very enjoyable.

Posted in Pop, Rock | No Comments »

EP – Transparent – Chasing Arrows

Posted by admin on 11th March 2008

First off I have to say, I get a little antsy when a band releases a 7 tracks and calls it a CD. To me 7 tracks, weighing in at 24 minutes is more an EP than an Album. Calling it a CD just seems to be a way to blur the lines. Anyway rant over.

It’s sometimes difficult when a band requests a review to get a good feel of what they are about, just by listening to a few tracks on MySpace. Sometimes I take a chance and am blown away and sometimes I get a CD and just think, ouch a one track wonder. So when this CD came in from Chasing Arrows, and I heard the first half minute or so, I began to wonder what I’d let myself into. This 1 and a half minute track is more like a drummers warm up, but I could sense something really pleasant coming, unfortunately what I got was the next track “Stranger than Danger”, which while a pleasant enough track has an awful start.

Oh those lads from Oasis have a lot to answer for, in this case more for the guitar work that’s interspersed throughout the title track “Transparent”, rather than overall musical influences. This is a great track, that really has a great vibe about it. The vocals also have a very distinct sound and contrasts the music nicely. I was trying to think of who the lead singer reminded me of, but couldn’t quite place it, but when “My Addiction” started I keep thinking of John Evans from the John Evans Band, an artist already reviewed here on Indie Launchpad.

The more I got into this CD, the more it started to relax itself. The first few tracks feel somewhat uptight, but by the time “Unaware”, the firth track starts, everything seems to flow much freer. “Down and Out” failed to really grab me, but the final track “Look Ahead” I really enjoyed, with it’s flashes of Bruce Hornsby.

Conclusion : A great band which I can see developing nicely by the time a full album release comes to fruition.

Posted in Alternative, Rock | No Comments »

Album – This is Grand Atlantic – Grand Atlantic

Posted by admin on 11th March 2008

Album – This is Grand Atlantic – Grand Atlantic

Australia has a lot to answer for, like Neighbours, Home and Away, Young Doctors and Paul Hogan. It’s not all doom and gloom however, there are the odd rays of light that shine from our down under cousins. Not being immersed in Australian music, means it’s very hard for me to find new bands and know what’s hot and what’s not. It’s great then when listeners to the podcast, pipe up and make some stellar recommendations. I was tipped off about Grand Atlantic a while back and in fact had their album sitting in my in pile for the longest time. A couple of weeks ago, I was reminded that I hadn’t yet mentioned Grand Atlantic, so decided to come back to them with renewed interest. Imagine my delight, and utter guilt when realizing this was an amazing album, that had somehow flown under my radar.

The first few tracks, remind me a lot of Oasis, however the harsh lead vocals are replaced with vocals that are somewhat easier on the ear. The whole bands sound is very reminiscent of the Brit pop scene of the 90’s, but with a strong 80’s rock influence. The album opens with “Prelude”, which is a much softer song than would usually open this kind of rock and pop album. “Coolite” very much exudes Oasis goodness and it’s here that the real nature of the band comes to the fore. Again with “Smoke and Mirrors” the influence of other bands seep out, but there’s much here that is fresh and interesting.

“Wonderful Tragedy” sees the band take a slightly different, more theatrical turn, very reminiscent of Marc Almond, there’s that hint of kitsch, but only the merest hint, as the vocals cover the kitsch with just the right bend of testosterone, but make no mistake, this is very much a track aspiring to be a classic rock ballad, but just misses the mark ever so slightly.

It’s hard to make the Oasis comparisons, and not have that nagging wish in my gut for the laddish singalong track. Unfortunately this never transpires, but we do get a small homage to the Beatles, with “Burning Brighter”, which just has that great combination of lyrics and a melody at times, which reminds me of “Getting Better”. “Moth and Rust” is a bizarre little peel away from the rest of the album, but it does give a nice touch of levity, especially in the opening moments. “Peace Be with You” again pains homage to some 60’s icons, but here it’s more the Beach Boys, rather than the Beatles and is just a wonderful track to lay the 13 track album to rest.

Conclusion : A very strong album, which has a nice mix of freshness and timeless influences. A great find from Australia that shows there is some amazing talent just waiting to be discovered. I look forward to find some more great talent from Australia and will be keeping a keen eye on this exciting band.

Posted in Alternative, Rock | No Comments »