As anyone who's checked out the recent label compilation "Digital Northerner" will already know, Salford's Fat Northerner Records is spewing all manner of eclectic by-products all over the current indie banquet.
Very eloquently put, I know, but still an apt analogy when considering a clutch of bands as diverse as the bruising rock brawn of Slims, the scallydelic vibes of Chimes, the cheeky dancefloor hedonism of Blue Avenger and the Alabama 3-ish dustbowl electro-blues being purveyed by Iron Weed.
Liverpool's REBBECA, though, would arguably seem the label's best bet where expansive, commerciality-seeking rock moves are concerned. Compilation track "Fortune For The Flame" was a powerful introductory offer and "Halfway In Love" - while overall not as good - proves there are more well-crafted slowburners where that came from.
Indeed, "Halfway In Love" is swirly, well-produced primary rock, with a strong, radio-friendly chorus proffered at exactly the right moment. It's heady gear, much more reminiscent of the Mancunian hinterland, though the vocals ultimately shoot it in the foot by taking on board too many predictable Martin/ Bellamy/ Buckley (delete as applicable) falsetto-isms over the distance. That's pretty ironic, as it' initially the fragility of the singing during the song's first thirty seconds that begins to draw you into Rebbeca's world.
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Still, not enough to frighten the horses altogether, and hooky enough to help get Rebbeca noticed outside the provinces. Shall we call it a score draw this time round?
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