Lick Online - Demo Reviews

How to approach a release from such luminaries; after all, it's illegal to criticise the Modfather? I shouldn't have worried. Given that Paul Weller has been in the business since the heady agit punk days of The Jam in the Seventies, through the Style Council and never ending success story of his solo career it was hardly likely he would participate in the release of a turkey. Graham Coxon may not be as high profile as he was in the heady days of Blur but his driving riffs propel this moody joint collaboration, "This Old Town", ably aided and abetted by some fine drumming from Zak Starkey. Coxon claimed, "As a long time admirer of Paul I never dared imagine getting a chance to work with him so I was bricking it when we first met but he is an absolute gent and a shockingly great musician and singer". Embarrassing gushing over, Weller returned the compliment when he said, "I've always been a big fan of Grahams and love his work so it was exciting for me to work on something new with him". Weller mightn't be the angry young man he was back then but this song crashes and rampages the way The Jam once did, albeit with a modern bent, and, just as, "This old town won't let you go", neither will the insistent nature of this song, remaining burnt into your mind for some considerable time afterwards. Unfortunately only the title track was available for review; "Each New Morning" is a Graham Coxon composition and "Black River" was written by Paul Weller. If they are as good as the title track then I want more.


Available as a download on July 2nd and as an AA sided limited edition, (5, 000copies) single on July 30th.
Colin Dunn.

On first listen I found this a bit twee, but patience brought it's own reward as this is a definite, "grower". Birmingham born but London based Ben Hudson is in the classic songwriter view, mixing literate lyrics with reggae and a touch of hip-hop.

"Picture of You" is a bitter sweet juxtaposition of the vagaries of fame and the harshness of separation. The rueful lyrics, offset with a ska beat and some majestic tinkling on the piano deal with the problem of how to strike a balance, with the album version being the standout on this August 27th release. "It's always the sunny days that bring me down, when I'm reminded that you're not around. Friends try and fail to make me smile, but I had the answer with me all the while. I've got a picture of you wherever I go, a sweet reminder from you to me that I'm never alone. If time should bring me fame or a touch of bling, (Imagine that, getting paid to sing). You can keep your cars, cigars and frosted rings, without you here they just won't mean a thing", sings Ben as he laments the time spent apart.

Is it good enough to bring him chart success? Probably, but that depends on all important airplay, but in a time when so many lyrics are saccharin coated doggerel he at least writes fluently and deserves to be heard. The instrumental was somewhat extraneous but that is to be overly harsh; there is a lot to commend this.

Colin Dunn

This two track CD from unsigned London based four piece, Assembly Now, will be released on 6th August and they describe themselves as, the sound of "Roy Orbison, Brian Wilson and Girls Aloud, while David Bowie has a nonchalant cigarette in the corner". Mmmmm, not quite, but I see where they're coming from. They have been in existence for eighteen months and opening song, "Graphs, Maps & Trees", is a jaunty Mockney voiced social pastiche reminiscent of early Blur as they tell how, "Down at the zoo the animals are getting restless" in finest Damon Albarn style. Clocking in at 3 minutes and 21 seconds this is a delicious slice of hook laden indie pop while second track, "Calculate" is an absorbing mesh of guitars and moodiness; much less a pop song and more a dense brooding piece of miserablism, but deliciously enjoyable nonetheless. The two songs are vastly different and, being the perverse sod that I am, I much prefer the darkness of, "Calculate", although the title track is much more commercially viable.


Colin Dunn

Ayrshire four-piece The Front released their EP back in May,after spending time recording it with Thomas McNeice from the band El President. After being compared to such acts as Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon and Primal Scream, these guys have quite a reputation to live up to.
The EP begins with a mildly memorable bass riff and a Jet style 'Woah!' before announcing itself as the title track 'Shoot to Kill'. After a few verses of pill-popping and beer-drinking, a very nice guitar solo makes its way to the forefront of the song. Just as I reach for the skip button a fast-paced refrain kicks in and wakes me up to the point where I almost want to listen to the song from the start again, just to hear this glorious little happy ending.
The second track 'Turn Me Off' didn't do much to keep me entertained however, and a second attempt to reach for the skip button led me to 'Time Goes By'. This jumpy little Libertines sounding number uses twanging guitars, distorted vocals and sing-a-long choruses with encouraging results.
The final track 'Me and My God' goes along the same lines with little to find fault with, but little to praise either. With a little more excitment and some originality, in time The Front could have something good on their hands.