New Artist Alert: Observing The Ghost - EP Review

'Ghost rock' is not a sub-genre I am all too familiar with. Apparently, there are two criteria that must be met before you can describe yourself as pioneers of such a style. Thus, progressive, atmospheric, and psychadelic feels must be key features in your sound, and all your members' names must start with the letter B. Or at least these two points are true of 'Observing The Ghost', the ghost-rocking quintet from Portsmouth, UK.

Observing The Ghost have spent the past year or two making a name for themselves across the South-Coast, playing in a whole load of venues I'm all too familiar within in the Southampton/Portsmouth/Winchester areas. The guys are due to release their debut album 'Burn The Tsunami' on Coffee Jingle Records on October 26th, but until then I've had a listen to last year's EP 'We Will Find The Sun'.

With five tracks on offer, the EP kicks off with 'Now We Are Shadows', and sure enough my progressive and atmospheric senses are tingling. With a nod to the former, the vocals don't kick in until over a minute into the track; perhaps the guys are setting out their 'progressive stall' if you will, but I can't help but feel myself yearning for a much quicker introduction. The way the track starts on the EP could be a great feature live, but I'd love for it all to kick in at 25 seconds, there's a great window for a real punchy drop. But that's just me. When it does kick in, the wall of sound is so dense and texturally thick that there's a great platform to experiment with layering and building throughout the song which I, as the listener, look forward to. The vocals are simple but effective and the drums are interesting behind the scene-setting guitar and fort-holding bass. The chorus is a little messy but that's more a nod to the texture and I'm sure works well live, and I love the progression from half-time to double-time and back to a settling half-time in the second verse. There's a slight unsettling nature apparent in the vocals now with a few effects creeping in, showcasing a dip into psychadelic and electronic quarters that works really well. There's no hiding from the fact that it's a bit of a monster in length, with a self-indulgent guitar section which extends into the outro but it's certainly a monster musically as well, a great opener.

'Angles and Opinons' marks the half-way point of the EP, with more unnerving electronica-laced riffs and rhythms before the vocals seek to find some common ground in the verse. Vocally, the chorus sounds a little weak compared with the music on show but melodically it is branching into the stadium-rock-friendly progression that is also cited amongst the band's influences, perhaps a hint of Coldplay somewhere in the mix. Again it makes for a really interesting audio offering though, something a little different from the norm and daring to hold its own. The track is less memorable than our opener but is still in keeping with the theme of the EP and I definitely wouldn't go as far as to describe it as a filler, ending a lot stronger than it began.

'Rebirth in Reflections' is the EP's closing statement, headed with an interesting groove and settling into a nice 6/8 signature. It's a much calmer affair than its predecessors but it feels as if the band have thought long and hard about the tracklisting of the EP which signifies a real journey for the listener. The drums stand out for all the right reasons once more, showcasing yet more creative grooves and fills as the track closes the EP and rounds off our musical outing safely yet comfortably. I'm not sure on the guitar tone for the short solo section that falls off into obscurity towards the end but overall this marks the finale well to a great-sounding, and altogether rather different, EP as the full-band bring around the last chorus one more time with a final goodbye.

Observing The Ghost will be on the road in support of their debut album from 19th October, for full info on locations and to keep up to date with the band, be sure to check them out on Facebook. 

Video Release: Kyoto Drive - 'Breathe'

The Kyoto Drive lads have been busy recently, and I'm happy to share with you their video for the track 'Breathe' taken from their new mini-album 'The Approach'. Adam Binder, of Kyoto Drive, had this to say about the track:

"Breathe, the song, is basically about sex, lets not skip around that fact. The song is written from the viewpoint of the boy, looking for some kind of sign that the girl is enjoying herself as much as he is. So it's kind of a love song, kind of not, and no matter what guys say, we've all been there, we've all waited for that second of recognition from that girl that we REALLY liked. So following on from that we really wanted to do a boy/girl story style video, keep it in theme with the song, plus we've done the whole band performance video thing, we wanted to try something new. This is what Josh the director came up with..."

The band have a busy tour schedule over the next few months, including a UK tour support with Hawthorne Heights

19.09 THE HAUNT, BRIGHTON
20.09 THE PEEL, KINGSTON
22.09 MOHO LIVE, MANCHESTER
23.09 VENUE, NEWCASTLE
24.09 TUNNELS, ABERDEEN
25.09 DEXTER’S, DUNDEE
26.09 NEWMARKET BAR, THURSO
27.09 STAIRWAY, GLASGOW
28.09 THE WELL, LEEDS
29.09 THE SUGARMILL, STOKE
30.09 HOBO’S, BRIDGEEND
01.10 CRAUFURD ARMS, MILTON KEYNES
02.10 FACEBAR, READING 

Also the mainland Europe tour with There For Tomorrow of Hopeless Records has just been confirmed and announced.
 
26/10 THE PEEL, KINGSTON (UK)
27/10 ROCK CAFE, LEUVEN (BE)

28/10 TIEFGRUND, BERLIN (DE)

29/10 ROCK-HOUSE, SALZBERG (AT)

30/10 DURER KERT, BUDAPHEST (HU)

31/10 B72, VIENNA (AT)
01/11 BLACKOUT CLUB, ROME (IT)
02/11 LA MARQUISE, LYON (FR)
03/11 DAMAGE FESTIVAL, PARIS (FR)
05/11 SCHLACHTHOF, BREMEN (DE)

06/11 DYNAMO, EINDHOVEN (NL)

Check out the video for yourselves below, and be sure to keep in touch with the guys on Facebook. 

Video Release: Charlie Played Cello - Memories Collide

You may remember my post on LA rockers Charlie Played Cello about two months ago, in which they featured as a new artist here on When We Were Beautiful. Well, I'm happy to reveal that in that short space of time, the band have been working hard and have now released a video for their track 'Memories Collide', which you can see below. I have been forewarned that if I am in any way a fan of 80's glam rock, I'm sure to enjoy the video. Well, as a huge Bon Jovi fan, how could I possibly pass up this opportunity?! You can see the results for yourselves, but let's just say it's nice for a band to have a little fun once in a while, especially a fairly new band, who don't feel they need to take themselves as seriously as everybody else. A great track with a rocking video.

Enjoy!

New Artist Alert: Neko

When We Were Beautiful would like to welcome Neko to its rostra of featured artists, a three-piece outfit from Worthing, UK intent on bringing guitars back into the charts. The pop-rock trio, founded earlier this year in its current formation, describe themselves as eclectic and hard-hitting, who are driven by otherworldy sounds among other things.

Otherworldy is certainly a great adjective to describe my introduction to the band, and indeed the introduction to their first track 'The Return'. A sweeping call-to-arms sounds loudly as a minor arpeggio rings out before the track settles into its stabbing chord progression. As the drums assure themselves and the listener, the vocals are introduced and remind me initially of a Matt Bellamy/Mika infusion strangely. Personal choices aside, the vocals are great and the track has a cool and simplistic feel as it progresses towards its first chorus, which is beckoned by a hint of lovely harmonies leading the listener in. The vocals do indeed start to soar here, picking up the rest of the band into a rousing and rather-epic chorus. The second chorus thankfully comes around a little quicker than the first, reassuring familiarity with the listener, before making way for a guitar-led section. The music drops as in the verses to allow for this, and although my first thought was to maintain the energy and texture of the choruses, the band's decision is justified by their rather abrupt ending. So unexpected was it in fact that I had to check if the track was over; there's room for another chorus but with a lengthy-period of time before the first chorus kicks in and a nod to the band's quest for chart domination, coming in at under three and a half minutes is a vote in their favour. A top tune.

'Changes' maintains the syncopated guitar riffs and the overall sound reminds me of The Hoosiers a little. Rhythm is clearly a factor in the guys' song-writing as they often seek to push the boundaries of livening sections up and ensuring, for instance, the drums mimic certain riffs to add a little more emphasis. As the chorus comes around, I'm reminded of a slightly McCartney-esque sound to the vocals and their harmonies adding an interesting Beatles-infusion into the mix. The guitar riff in the verses gets a little repetitive by the time the second verse is here which provides a good opportunity to add something new to help maintain the listener's interest whilst adding a deeper level to the song. 'Changes' ends as rather abruptly as its predecessor coming in at well under two minutes; there's of course room for extra sections but it's great the band have made the decision to keep things short and sweet. It's easy to elongate sections or throw too many ideas into the mix but harder to be brutal in deciding what stays and if this suits the band then who are we to judge?

Neko do as they promise, bringing a funky and fresh breed of guitar-pop to the table which would sit perfectly well in the popular music charts. Their friendly, feel-good charm and soaring choruses would not go amiss on National mainstream radio and I wish them every success in reaching that platform.

Neko are performing at Bar 42 this Saturday 4th August in Worthing, West Sussex with support from Seraphim, a recent feature on the blog. The guys have their on website which you can check out here and be sure to keep up with the guys by following them on Facebook.

New Artist Alert: Anita Nicole

Debuting on When We Were Beautiful is the breath of fresh air that is Anita Nicole with her jazz-inspired solo sounds. Nicole cites Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson as her favourite artists, with the sassy yet smooth vocal inspiration of the latter example prominent in her forthcoming single 'Will You Ever Be'.

Featuring Robin Porter on piano, this silky jazz-infused ballad allows a lovely space for Nicole's delicate and passionate vocals. The arrangement reminds me of a John Legend piano part and there's definitely room for an R'nB feel to accompany Nicole's sound. The sparse arrangement is perfect for the track, but I can really feel a great soul band behind this live to add an extra layer of interest.

Nicole is currently studying at the Brit School in London, whose alumni boasts Jessie J, Adele, Leona Lewis, and Amy Winehouse to name but a few. 'Will You Ever Be' will be released online later this month, so be sure to keep up to date with Anita Nicole on Facebook, and check out the video for the track below.

New Artist Alert: Sink Swim

LA has spawned many-a great band over the years and its newest ambassadors, Sink Swim, are hoping to keep the torch alight. This alt/pop-punk trio have dived onto the scene with their debut offering 'Elements', a 5 track EP they hope will turn the heads of the global music masses with their "gut-wrenching vocals" and "catchy and honest choruses".

There's always something a little more genuine and honest about American-based pop-punk. Though this blog features the sub-genre heavily, it's not necessarily something I'm an expert in. All the same, the original, American breed is surely the source for imitation of all of the English pop-punk bands and a chance to feature a grassroots US outfit is too good to pass.

Elements doesn't fail to deliver the tried and tested pop-punk methods, whilst packing an extra dark punch; a nod to the band's alternative roots. The amalgamation of the member's backgrounds adds for an extra interest with the guys inspirations lying between hardcore drumming and latin guitar-playing.

'Losing Sleep', the EP's second track, introduces itself with monotonous one-chord stabs whilst the lead guitar adds a splash of colour on the wall somewhere in the distance. The verses drive steadily, opening up systematically to reveal a little more passion, texture, and, most importantly, the vocals. Already the track is building and we haven't even reached the chorus yet. The bass prominently throbs along, holding down the fort with the drums as the verse winds on before easing into a less-intense pre-chorus. It provides a great segue into the half-time feel of the chorus, just a mere 4-bars in the first instance. The hi-hats open up for the second verse, the track again always still building, and the band never fall short of musical and/or pre-production ideas to maintain the listener's interest whilst ever-climbing. The breakdown does as you'd expect, stripped to the bare bones, before jumping head-first into a guitar-led section but it's exactly what is needed; predictability is not always a bad thing. The track still seems to be building before the final chorus with new ideas still being introduced, as the drums lead the charge towards the outro. A great and well-crafted pop-punk song.

The EP's final track, 'Last Year', eases in with some nice reverse-guitar before the band's statement, twangy bass sets the rhythmic scene alongside acoustic guitar in a lazy 6/8 signature. The drums don't hold back with nice triplet bass-drum strokes still injecting the more alternative feel into this pop-punk driven ballad. I feel the band could have learnt more from their progression skills as featured in 'Losing Sleep'; the chorus doesn't separate itself enough from the rest of the track for my personal preference as it ebbs along as a musical piece rather than a song with clearly-defined sections. The vocals are laced with passion but the track itself doesn't feel as polished, or perhaps as musically interesting, as its predecessors and may have sat better on the EP in the middle rather than as the lasting impression.

Elements is a great and honest offering from LA's latest export Sink Swim and is available now on iTunes. Be sure to grab yourself a copy and keep up to date with the guys on Facebook too. Enjoy!

Boy Set Sail return with Brand New EP!

The Newport quartet Boy Set Sail are back with a brand new EP titled 'Roads'. Recording began earlier in the year at The Ranch Production House, Southampton, where my band Birds In Flight recorded ourselves almost a year ago. Check out this great and 'spicy' behind-the-scenes teaser video featuring interviews with the band members and samples from the new record:

You can have a listen to the EP below but be sure to grab a copy for yourself; it's completely free! All you need to do is sign up to the I Am Mighty Records mailing list here and you'll be sent a free download link.

Enjoy!