Once upon a time there was a superb, but totally overlooked independent (pre-indie) band from Livepool called The Room. They made several albums, including one really good one called "Indoor Fireworks" and one brilliant one called "In Evil Hour" (produced by Tom Verlaine, no less) and got compared to The Fall an indecent number of times before splitting up quietly in 1985. That they never received their due still rankles.
I doubt very much that THE ROOM from Cannock, in the industrial wilds of Cannock, Staffs, are old enough to recall their Scouse forerunners, but let's hope they're not the second band to choose the name who will go unceremoniously by the wayside, as this demo EP suggests they have real potential.
On the face of it, there's nothing that's not been tried and tested a million times. It's guitar/ bass/ drums/ vocals and will probably be classed simply as "indie" as indeed our genre choice box forces us to tick. Thing is, though, like the original Room, this lot are instinctive, melodic and just different enough to be interesting.
There are three tracks featured on this demo EP and they're all good at the very least. "Stroll On" is the lead tune and it's strident, urgent, spooked guitar pop of the type few people still make nowadays. I'm not sure if it's the overall atmosphere or the clipped guitars or Jon Vernon's nervy vocals or what, but there's an indefinable something and that's what will make you listen a second time.
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Great start, and "Tales Of New Love" is better again. Drums roll around, basslines do jazzy walking patterns, while guitars scratch and scrape economically just like your reviewer likes. Actually, if you can imagine a less stoned early Shack waving at The Chameleons and ushering Damien O'Neill in to play the lovely hollow guitar solo near the end then you've pretty much got the feel of it.
"Quills" is the final track and kicks in via a sharp, coiled riff and nervous heartbeat drums. There's a definite yearning for nostalgia in Vernon's young voice and with lyrics like "Oh business not usual, just give up it's vital...my shoulders so heavy with strain" and "I thought one day I'd awake and be the son of God" you get the feeling this lot aren't exactly afraid of ambition, which is just as it should be of course.
The Room are busy playing gigs around the North Midlands and North West, and they deserve far more exposure if they have more songs of this calibre in their armoury. If, like me, you'd like to know more, then simply log on at: www.theroomalive.co.uk . Go on. Tell 'em I sent ya.
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