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Nine Black Alps S/T EP music review
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Nine Black Alps S/T EP
Tiny Evil
Nine Black Alps released their self-titled EP (Tiny Evil, 2005) with
enough
vim and vigor to awaken all those who have not yet been pleasantly
disturbed.
Track listing:
01 Cosmopolitan
02 Over The Ocean
03 Shot Down
04 Ilana Song
05 Attraction
Opening track 'Cosmopolitan' has the guitarwork intensity of a hybrid
Hives
and Bloc Party mix-up, and harmonies that resurrect The Clash. It's a
shorter tune, but those are best; jam-packed with the best riffs,
slides and
drumming in two and a half minutes.
'Over The Ocean' leads in quite similarly with speedy fretwork, but
this
time around, the chorus is more melodic and watered down. And 'Shot
Down'
reflects everything The Vines have attempted to do, but yet could never
quite grasp. Everything is on key, in place, and timed right, which is
something Craig Nicholls couldn't seem to figure out even while sober.
'Ilana Song' begins with a short bass intro that mimics a Black Rebel
Motorcycle Club riff, and this is yet another positive attribute to the
band. They have the ability to take the best of some of the biggest
bands
and efficiently use it to perfect their sound. Next to 'Cosmopolitan',
this
is the best track. It's got the up-and-down dizzying riffs that switch
from
pitch to pitch, and the vocals that play off of it so effortlessly.
The EP closes with 'Attraction', and once more, the band targets
another
sound and runs with it. There's a few Oasis-y plucks, and some very
nice
slides, which bring George Harrison to mind. An acoustic track, it
still
manages to fit in well with the rest of the faster tracks because of
the
flawless guitar work, and frontman Sam Forrest's adaptability to meld
his
voice in appropriately with each tune.
The Manchester four-piece is Forrest, joined by David Jones
(guitar/bass),
Martin Cohen (bass/guitar) and James Galley (drums). Even in just an
EP, the
band has delivered an incredible sound, ranging from acoustic beauties
to
catchy favourites like hit-single hopeful, 'Cosmopolitan'. It's bands
like
these that a watchful eye needs to pay more attention to. When a band
is
able to capture the best from other artists, and still be able to
define
their own sound in the process, there is a great band in the making.
