INTRO DR. DEMO DEMO OF THE MONTH
Nick Byrne - CD Demo
www.myspace.com/nickbyrne Welsh singer songwriter Nick Byrne has crafted an impressive set of songs on this nicely crafted CD. Acoustic-based but beefed up by subtle but nonetheless impressive vocal harmonies and chunky sounding backing tracks, Nick’s tunes display a fervent imagination and he sets out his stall with confi dence. This is modern indie rock that isn’t afraid to reach out for some epic heights – as demonstrated by the haunting ballad, Anna – and there is plenty of light and shade to keep the listener engaged. As for Nick’s piercing vocals, he sometimes sounds
uncannily close to Everything Everything’s Jonathan Higgs, which will probably divide opinion among listeners who will either love or hate it! All in, though, this is a very good collection of strong songs. Not perfect, perhaps, but certainly a cut above average.
The Darlingtons - New Independent EP
www.myspace.com/thedarlingtonsmusic
A nostalgic post-punk sound pervades this CD from young Taunton émigrés The Darlingtons. An ominous Joy Division- shaped shadow looms over the opening track Sirens and Flashing Lights; but the band use their infl uences with taste and skill, blending elements of shoegazing – complete with rattling sheets of heavily processed guitar noise – to infuse their sound with a glossy sheen. Some might still fi nd this indie guitar rock is a bit too generic for their tastes but The Darlingtons seem to have something genuinely interesting about them, maybe it’s the sheer scale of their music’s soaring panoramic drama that wins you over? Either way, they are ones to watch, for sure.
The Voltron - Demo EP
With no obvious MySpace or Internet presence to speak of, at least judging by the enclosed letter and a fruitless Google search, The Voltron need to step up their game PR-wise. The lack of tangible info or even a decent image of the band is a shame but it highlights the schoolboy errors that many bands make when putting together a demo. All of the time and attention has clearly been lavished on the recording, which is of a passable if not outstanding quality, but somebody has clearly forgotten to upload any tracks onto the web or to generally put together a package for the band. This is a shame because this Beds/Herts-based band actually has quite a lot going for them. The snarling Iggy Pop- eque vocals, crunchy guitars and grubby tunes crackle with more
snotty-arsed attitude than a bus shelter full of teenagers out of their heads on banana skins and cheap cider; promising but you need to put together a proper press pack, now!
Bad Ideas - Demo EP
www.myspace.com/badideasuk
Confi dent power pop rock with a distinct US fl avour from Bad Ideas, a self-proclaimed folk/punk four-piece hailing from the majestic fenland landscape of Lincolnshire. The recording sounds a bit muffl ed but even the disappointing quality of the audio can’t quell the music’s irrepressible fi zzing energy. This is great stuff, bursting with catchy hooks and tightly woven vocal harmonies – an overlooked ingredient that defi nitely separates the men from the boys. If the band had bothered to supply a more professional-looking press pack (no more CD-R’s hand written in felt tip pen please!) they would have been this month’s winners. As it goes, Bad Ideas can claim a moral victory if not a statistical one.
8 pickup
The Doc reviews the best of this month’s unsigned talent…
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Send your demos to: Dr Demo,
Playmusic Magazine The Mallings
112 Malling Street Lewes, E. Sussex BN7 2RG
“Ooo, that beat’s infectious!”
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