North-West heroes-in-waiting THE SHALLOW CALL'S excellent 3-track EP "A Dark Ballad In Three Parts" was one of the unsigned world's best offerings of the past 12 months. It showcased a fully-formed and fantastic band with great songs and bags of panache all ready to go, not to mention a nicely individual line in atmosphere and murderous thoughts.
So in many ways, it's a surprise to notice the band are still releasing songs in the cottage industry manner from the medium of their own website (www.theshallowcall.com ) when it comes to the follow-up. But then again, rock's unforgiving highways and byways are littered with the corpses of prematurely dismissed bands, so if this quartet are holding out and sticking to their guns, then good for them.
But whatever the thinking, The Shallow Call remain an ominously good presence lurking in the unsigned undergrowth, and only further re-inforce their future claim with the songs making up this new 4-Track Demo EP.
Opener "Indecision" does anything but live up to its' name. It's tougher, terser and rockier than this hack recalls and has a way with fractured call'n'response guitars, raw-throated vocals from Phil O'Driscoll and a heatseeking intensity. Some light illuminates the shade at around the 2 minute mark and the band build the song back up skilfully, with the pumped-up "I'd like to know!" chorus bothering your synapses long after the track has finished.
"Devil Song" is again down-the-line and no-nonsense, with the band locking together impressively, sparks of tension flying and the song itself sounding like its' cut from the cloth of great British rock while neatly sidestepping both Britpop and the wiry, post-punk clones along the way.
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Third tune "Four Things" finds The Shallow Call stepping up a gear once again, and the oblivion-bound tendencies of "A Dark Ballad"s songs again rearing its' head. "I've been known to neglect opportunity/ God knows there's a spirit inside of me" drawls an unhinged Phil, as apathy and reckless abandon collide with the searing, Gun Club-style slide guitar which adds a dangerous frisson to the song.
Magnificently, they keep the best in reserve for the end, too, and "Strike, Electricity Strike". This one is more reminiscent of the band's slower, moodier side and - taking in psychosis, betrayal, obsession and all manner of devilish doings - whips itself into top-drawer end-of-the-tether pop. "Cut me down, I'm hung by the noose, all abandoned hope, tore up the truth... the bombs will be ticking up in heaven again" shrieks Phil, recalling Johnny Bramwell at his most macabre while the band cook beautifully. It's an undeniable highlight and might just be the best song they've batttered me around the head with to date.
I'm in danger of parodying myself as I've already said it several times, but the simple and obvious truth requires stating once again: The Shallow Call deserve a deal and much wider attention, and this marvellous 4-track EP again demonstrates they can deliver the goods any time you like.
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