Dead Slow - We Are Not Dead Slow

N: This band have been on my mp3 player for a couple of weeks now and I'm quite stunned at the arrangement and production used in the execution of this ep, a la early nineties. Funnily enough, a la Thom Yorke, complete with twisted chords and a vocal whose pitch matches Thom on a good day.

T: All that and more. All I can say is GTBARDN.

N: Huh?

T: Give. This. Band. A. Record. Deal. NOW.

N: Well that should be taken as heard. With songwriting, the aforementioned arrangement and production, this band are a ready made commodity. Just don't go asking who you should address - Dead or Slow? One being a threat and the other a put down. Remember, they are neither dead nor slow, they'll just provide your mp3 player with the food it needs to make a productive contribution. 9/10

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Jackdaw4 - Bipolar Diversions (369 Music)

N: "And the sun shines out of my ass - it's incredible" - what a great opening line.

T: Indeed, and it's a very British sounding record in the vain of The Kinks or the Dave Clark Five. Sublimely soaked sixties melodies, but the fact remains that it's probably a little TOO retro to make any kind of impact on the kids of today. Which would be a shame, because it's pretty damned good...

N: ...You say kids, how old do they have to be? Because if we're using early forties as a benchmark then I think they'll be very popular. But seriously this is a Travelling Wilburys kind of band, excellent at what they are doing, just without the notable rockers at their helm, bows, port and starboard. Very well produced too.

T: This is classic songwriting at its best; I reckon Jeff Lynne would be proud of himself if he'd written half of these tunes. Here at AD we appreciate that kind of old school pop music, and I raise my hat to them for creating something effortlessly appealing. 8/10

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Benjamin Wetherill - The Derby Ram/I Would Love To (Off The Bone Records) 18/02/08

T: Being a Leicester City supporter, the title "The Derby Ram" does not inspire much confidence in me, but I'm delighted to report that this is a quirky, slightly freaky folk tune, which is almost typical of Paul Giovanni, the genius behind the soundtrack to the brilliant 1973 film "The Wicker Man". "I Would Love To" then proceeds like "Puttin' On The Ritz", making this a fascinating, if confusing, listen.

N: I felt the first number possessed an almost uncanny spirit of Desmond Dekker...

T: HUH???!!!

N: I'm not saying it sounds like "The Israelites", it's more like a musical carnival.

T: Oh right. I see what you mean (eyes raised).

N: This is a difficult one to get a hold of, and certainly less immediate than other tunes we have heard recently in this section.

T: But does that make it any worse? I think not. Personally I love it.

N: I'm not saying this is any the worse for this fact, it's just my feeling, but it could so easily have been a fan's song about Derby County's 'Rams'.

T: And thank fuck it isn't. 8/10

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Open The Skies - Conspiracies (Rising Records) 18/02/2008

T: Is it fair for us to review this? It's hardly, after all, our choice brand of music. Having said that, I've found it palatable in an "early Metallica" kind of way so far.

N: Well I guess that answers your uncertainty. I'm certainly of the mind that we like to hear a varied palate of music. Standing still is a crime (he says sporting a haircut a'la 1992). Anyway musically this band show a solid backing and ability. Their range is scarily proficient, caution arises however with vocalist Josh McKeown rasps his lines, otherwise he has a powerful vocal range.

T: Nothing wrong with raspy voices. Tom Waits is one of my musical heroes and he probably has the raspiest voice of anyone! Anyway, Open The Skies make songs with unutterably MASSIVE choruses, and if I can just contradict my opening line, is actually bloody good indeed.

N: It should be pointed out I feel that although this band may not have exactly the best table manners, if you persevere their melodies come shining through. 8/10

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Idiot Savant - Emilione (Suave Records) Out Now

T: Sounding rather like a freak folk version of Joy Division having their boots polished by the Kitchens Of Distinction, whilst Jarvis Cocker oversees proceedings, Idiot Savant make a glorious racket. Riveting stuff which builds to a crescendo and leaves my fists pumping the air in glee. This is utterly superb stuff.

N: To have 'KoD' referenced in a review is a wonderful compliment, one of those great best kept secrets and if a band deserve this accolade, then Idiot Savant are certainly that. A dark, gothy blend, that is bigger than its sum total. Another winner surely. 10/10

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I Concur - Lucky Jack/Build Around Me (Brew Records) 10/03/2008

T: Nice start.

N: I concur, very nice start (get the pun?)

T: That's a nice way of skirting around the issue and forcing me to make the opening gambit. Yes I do get the pun. But what do you think of the music?

N: Good music, although with some way to go before their sound can be described as blossoming.

T: I love their atmospheric guitar work though; it seems to be akin to "Porcupine" era Bunnymen.

N: That'll be the 'chorus' pedal they've used, obviously to good effect. And now I've taken the time to hear their second number here; 'Build Around Me' it's looking better. They've stuffed this number with even more warmth, that the song comes leaping out at the listener. A band that certainly deserve further investigation. 8/10

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Air Cav - Alliance/Branches (Surbia Records) 04/02/2008

N: You know what this reminds me of? Mick Jones circa Big Audio Dynamite.

T: Vocally, perhaps. Not sure about the music, but what I will say about it is that it's huge, booming and unquestionably exciting. Having said that, "Branches" sounds exactly like Arcade Fire. So there you go, a mix of formed Clash members and Win Butler. A winning combination if ever I heard one.

N: Well produced too, it sits nicely as a fully formed collection of tunes, not of course forgetting the lyrics. Although it does have to be said that it's the tunes that come at the listener in a very apparent fashion from the outset, which is no bad thing. We're liking this a lot. 9/10

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