Lick Online - Demo Reviews

>> 3 Track Album Promo
>> Hijacked

I used to love the Sky at Night. It was great. Patrick Moore (soon to become The Games Master) calmly and lovingly discussing and describing the latest celestial news with academically respected guests displaying varying low levels of charisma; gently being overshadowed by the be-monocled giant! And all in the deathly hours after midnight when you fancied yourself as a bit of an astrologer with your Argos telescope on its plastic stand, planted on the windowsill pointing at the featureless clouds.

Having nothing to do with all this is The Sky At Night; a sublime new band peddling adventurous wares in the vein of the Arcade Fire and My Latest Novel. In terms of hugely imaginative bands there is an embarrassment of riches out there at the moment and, in my opinion, that’s still not enough! The more love and care that goes into a well-structured and beautiful ep the better – and based on this promo, The Sky At Night has talent and imagination in bundles. The evidence is there in the speakers.

‘Plucky Scot Goes Down Fighting’ has a distinct Flaming Lips-y ache to it, ‘My Reasons’ is the soundtrack to a piece of underground European cinema not yet realised and ‘Goodnight, Sleepyhead’ has the slide guitar sound of the soul itself. Everything here yearns with a seemingly dreamy ease; songs build in tremendous crescendos that twist and bellow with the sound of Mother Nature’s fiery wrath. This is exactly the type of band to dream of in those deathly midnight hours as you stare at the sky looking for stars.

The album ‘Hope for Dummies’ is released in April.

>> Russell Moore

www.theskyatnight.net

>> Save My Soul
>> Single

Looking at the cover, and going by the band name, I was expecting Dresden to sound like some apocalyptically industrial über-group; dealing with such grand issues as the possibility of a futuristic, neon-lit, scart-controlled society where the only expression of free will comes in the form of the carbon-tinged burn of machine monotony…

But No! These scamps are exponents of some radical Motor City™ RAWK! Aah, the sound of youth and vitality! First track ‘Save my Soul’ has the touches of evangelical preaching that such a release really should be dealing in. My favourite thing about the MC5 / Stooges-esque sound has always been the quasi-religious tones in both the lyrics and the vibe – the feeling that you should be worshipping at the foot of the stage with the sweaty throng of the spiritually awakened. Think David Byrne with some added crazy amp action slaying Once In A Lifetime with Iggy Pop on the mixing desk – like that. And Dresden has kinda nailed it.

‘Crusader’ is a battling tune with a divine, driving surge. Boss lyrics concerning ‘Jesus freaks’ and freedom fighters only lasting a week wrap things up nicely and the urgent delivery means you can’t do much else other than sit up and take notice.

Dresden has the tunes, attitude and panache to pull off this great single. Celebrated by Xfm and with the single launch under its belt, the band can only keep movin’ up. Playing Tut’s this month, and I’m sure with plenty of gigs lined up, it would be well worth your while to get out there and check out this band.

>> Russell Moore

www.dresdenmusic.co.uk

>> Calling Out To you
>> Neon Tetra
>> Photo: Richard Campbell

I can't tell you how refreshing it was the first time I witnessed Ally Kerr live. After well over two hours of watching a series of turgid emo-metal bands who, funnily enough, sounded exactly like Finch (Finch have captured the sound of unimaginative, pretentious dross perfectly, so who better torip off...) Ally Kerr took to the stage with his own distinctively folkyindie pop songs.

Of course I didn't know any of the songs at the time and the aforementioned pseudo-Finch bands scampered for the exits with a few exaggerated yawns within seconds, but put that down as love at first sight for me. The same innocent charm he exudes live naturally appears on Calling Out to You in abundance, notably on the absurdly catchy "Someone's got acrush on me" and the title track (featuring some simply adorable whistling).

Unfortunately the album does tend to drag a little towards the end and there is one rather notable miss with "The sore feet song" where Kerr falls off the lyrical wagon spectacularly, delivering several clunkers of the kind he manages so successfully to avoid on the rest of the album - the worstculprit being "I robbed a convenience store, because I thought it'd make things easier".

In the end however, for anyone willing to give up their pretentions, Calling Out To You is a hugely charming and enjoyable experience with some obvious comparisons to make for anyone unfamiliar with his sound - Teenage Fanclub, Elliot Smith, Eugene Kelly - but though I hesitate to say none of these would do it justice, Kerr has managed to craft his own laid back folky pop sound and if that's your cup of tea (and itcertainly isn't a lot of people's) then you'll enjoy this.

>> Stuart Brown

www.allykerr.com
www.richardcampbell.co.uk

>> Demo

Edinburger friends the Mars Patrol don't mess about with this lovely slice of pop/rock. Two tracks. Two hooky chorus. One up-beat foot-tapper, and one slow ballad. Boom. Dinnertime.

Opener Are You With Me? starts with a cracking guitar lick and pounding drums, and lead singer Davina Divine (a name fit for any rock n roller) has a strong voice in a genre when its so easy for a female vocal to get lost among the guitars. Lyrically its nothing groundbreaking, but a smashing tune none-the-less.

The line Crying Your Heart Out must have been used in a thousand songs, but still has a freshness about it in the second track. A strong chorus again is the catchy sing-a-long moment, and even if the verses seem to be waiting for the chorus to kick in, its another strong song that pisses all over Oasis' attempt to be sentimental with the same line.

Catch them live on the 31st of March at King Tuts, or if your really keen you can join one of their Japanese fan sites!

>> Joe Sach

www.themarspatrol.com
www.myspace.com/themarspatrol

>> Emer
>> Gargleblast Records

It's an awesome effort of substance over style on this tragically short compact disc from Emer. Peeling out with a Kings of Leon jangle on opener 'Windows Close' before bludgeoning the listener with one of the riffs of the year is a fair description of the first minute or so. You'd reckon a hefty head scratch and a 'what the...' would be in order, but the best thing is that it never feels dumbed down or out-of-place.

The tourist board should adopt the wonderful Scottish resonance of 'Speed Of Dark', an eerie and atmospheric song that seems to embody the true feeling of our surroundings; theres life in the hills. The harmonious, driving song craft also owes as much to Wilco as it does to Idlewild; there's a feeling of belonging here that would translate in most cultures.

This is a magnificent release that should be on everyones wish list.

>> Russell Moore

www.emernoise.co.uk
www.myspace.com/emernoise
www.gargleblastrecords.com