On one hand, it's hardly surprising that this band have been making waves far beyond their native Sheffield: this debut single of theirs just oozes classic cool. You can almost hear the legs akimbo guitar stances and feel the crackle of electricity like lightning from the speakers. On the other, such drawing on well-worn rockisms should be tired and tedious by now. But damn, this is ace!
Driving, gritty rhythm guitars (Queens of the Stone Age are their preferred reference point), overlaid with spindly reverby toppy guitar motifs, baritone vocals and propelled by a low, low bass and relentless mechanised drum all contrive to render this something of a linear successor to the old-school goth bands. None of your later darkwave cack, but the greats, like The Sisters of Mercy, The March Violets... yes, the capacity of these bands to rock is immensely underrated, as is the fact that being cool is less about image than being genuinely cool. And 'Brighter or Better' is cool to the core, with a tripwire tension of solid steel at its shiny black heart. It's easy to understand why former Jesus and Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart got on board to produce the promo video, which is positively brimming with sleazy cool.
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'This Crowdis Overcrowded' is more conventional rock 'n' roll, swing a swing and a swagger, the QOTSA comparisons perhaps more appropriate. Did I mention that they rock?
Really, truly, brilliant.: my single of the year so far.
http://www.myspace.com/thevioletmay
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