RED INK

Audrey

Independent

This writer can certainly confirm that it is possible to over-play this record. A neat little three-track CD, there’s plenty to appreciate musically on initial listens. The vocals are perhaps the most distinctive part; chock full of hooks, each song seemingly packaged just perfectly so as to vie competitively for the lucrative national youth radio market.

Meanwhile, the guitars power around the pedal board like sirens, the bass drops a ‘funky’ line where necessary, and the drums are not at any point out of place. This band is ready and raring to be blared from mid-card festival PA stacks, set to be remembered fondly by a select group of die-hards as they move on into non-descript suburban lives over the next few years.

This is a conflicting release. On paper, everything fits. Quite literally, too. The release is hand-numbered, the artwork is stark in its simplicity, and every conceivable musical box has been ticked. They even have a blog. It should be just a matter of time before these guys are the next Birds Of Tokyo. At least, that’s what their publicist is sure to declare when he gets his five minutes with Kingsmill.

Fortunately for the band they have sponsorship from two clothing companies; but even that’s not gonna change the fact that this is just way too safe to ever ignite anything more than a brief flash in the pan.

_BEN WATSON