I have just noticed in the press release that only 200 copies of this debut EP are being released by the band. Given that I can already think of 200 people in I CONCUR'S native Leeds who will want a copy, I would recommend further-flung fans of Americana-tinged post rock guitar bands to get in the queue as soon as pay day allows. Put it in there with your Appleseed Cast, your Wilko, Midlake and The National stuff. You can then feel smug if you notice a fine album doing rather well in a year or so. But more to the point you can feel relieved, whatever happens, that you have your own copy of a very accomplished first release. Your reward is in the shape of cunningly insinuated chord shifts (with some fairly hard edged playing) and surges of the euphoria that only two guitars can bring. Tim Hann and Chris Woolford, do precise, thoughtful things in a well tempered way. The four songs are well-made, thoroughly matured and 100% cheese-free.
"Whatever It’s Going To Be" is the first product of the band's early months of existence. "Demons and Slaves" at the opening and "Exits Are Blockades" at the end get top ranking. The final minute of "Exits Are Blockades is one of those "Oh YEEEEES!" moments that us poor reviewers wait weeks and weeks to hear. But "Decimal Places" has the double bonus of being a song about scientific cheating as well as having an arithmetical clash between the title an the ¾ time signature. It's intelligent music, you see, and full of the chemistry that only well-played guitars can unleash. "Oblige" is a quality song too.
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The vocal lines are restrained but seriously delivered by Hann and Brunger, who had made their last band NIKOLI sound so very good. The accent (praise be) is educated, but recognisably and genuinely north of England (a bit Liverpool, a bit Leeds) and the quirky, uncluttered lyrical content adds to the gritty charm. Drums (James Brunger) and bass (Toby Page) are full and sympathetic - no surprise given the extensive shared experience involved in the project.
The y have already been put on stages with some august company, and given such a running start, I CONCUR have a foundation here for something even large and quite exciting.
www.myspace.com/iconcurband
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