INTRO DR. DEMO DEMO OF THE MONTH
Element - Corrupted Desires
www.myspace.com/elementsound An impressively packaged demo from Wigan-based metal band Element, whose comprehensive press pack included an impressive biography and – even better – a clutch of glowing reviews from various HM publications and websites! Fortunately, the contents more than live up to the hype; Elements rock harder and heavier than a rampaging Viking hoard! The guitars crunch and scream in an appropriately menacing manner and extra props are due to drummer Rob Urquhart, whose stunning blast beats punctuate and propel the music with the precision and devastating accuracy of a Smart Bomb! Elements live up to their name, managing to
sound contemporary whilst also paying homage to the halcyon days of early Judas Priest or Iron Maiden. The obligatory slow song Solace, whilst demonstrating the band’s versatility still slows things down a bit and the faster punchier material works best for the demo. It might serve the band better to leave the slow songs to the live set. Still, this is a great CD by a truly talented metal band that deserves to be up there with the best.
The Ouija Birds - 4 Track Demo CD
www.myspace.com/theouijabirds
Unsigned Bristol band The Ouija Birds’ creepy sounding post-Psychedelic pop doesn’t mask their ability to craft a decent tune. The fuzz-bass riffs and soaring vocals on the song Falling From the Stars is one of this demo’s highlights and whilst it’s obvious that these tracks were recorded by the band themselves (as opposed to an expensive professional studio production) their inventive arrangements and obvious musical ability still shines through. Haunting, skillfully crafted and determinedly original, this demo serves the band well despite its obvious low production values demonstrated by the budget packing and (deliberately?) murky sound quality. Interesting. More, please.
New Zealand Story - Show Your Workings
www.newzealandstory.bandcamp.com
Singer songwriter Dave Wright delivers a tight-knit set of original tunes whose clipped delivery, unconventional chordal shifts and deadpan lyricism recalls Pulp’s brief 90s Britpop peak, or perhaps the acerbic detachment of The Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton. The wit, intelligent wordplay and high quality of musicianship (as demonstrated by plenty of moody piano arpeggios) helps the music break free of the usual bass-drums-guitar constraints of trad indie rock, only main protagonist David Wright’s somewhat limited vocal style restricts the music to a distinctly middlebrow
Englishness, which makes it diffi cult to pigeonhole exactly who this music appeals to. This is defi nitely more Radio 6Music fare than peak time Radio 1 but it nonetheless displays a certain earnest charm that bears repeated listening.
Kiria - Radio
www.kiria.co.uk
Self-proclaimed pop-punk from London-based artist Kiria, whose solid collection of tunes ably demonstrates her avowed passion for early 70s glam and picks up where the Ting Tings rather prematurely left off. Rather than being a derivative set, however, this demo glistens with a knowing eye on the commercial end of trashy girl-led pop rock. Chunky guitar riffs shot through with plenty of hooks underpin an amusing tongue in cheek chick’s eye view of cross-dressing blokes, the banality of commercial radio and a sheer enthusiasm for the seedier side of life. This is unashamed bubblegum stuff but it’s so well crafted that you can’t help but like it.
8 pickup
The Doc reviews the best of this month’s unsigned talent…
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“Ooo, that beat’s infectious!”
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