We liked Volume 1's 5 tracks. The raw commitment and northern directness sold all five bands on first listen
So here they come again with Volume 2, including four completely new bands and a total of eight tracks. Mastermind Sam Robson (lead throatman for THE HAIR) tells us that the cheeky gits are applying for "funding" for Volumes 3 to 8. I have a feeling they'll get it too. "Rock" is the dominant feel. Guitars and vocal aggression are weapons of choice. But with eight bands on display the range is expanding and space is opening up for a more inclusive approach.
BLACK NIGHT CRASH have their "Revelation" on first. It's a stuttering blast of well-sung falsetto and metal quality with a self confident guitar riff and some great bits and pieces.
"Shit Father" is a Stranglers (the organ sound) meets The Specials (ska feel) song of dark family life in a bad place. RYAN SHIRLOW AND THE BLOODY MARY'S is a great name, and this sounds like they are becoming a very good band. Where BLACK NIGHT CRASH are well on top of their genre, RYAN and company have that tentative feel of a band making their way towards something pretty adventurous. The horn section is very effective.
CARDBOARD RADIO have a rockabilly hoedown feel, (without going the full yeehah) on "Too sick to go to the dogs". Quick and slow sections hinder it where a more direct race to the bridge might have kept it simpler and more fun.
THE HAIR's "Left Foot Right Foot" is a right little dance floor stomper. (reviewed elsewhere) It sets up a groove for KANUBA to stride into with their funky rock stuff: "Freedom" is a performance workout for bass and drums, while the singer gives a good old man in young man's body gruffness doing blues.
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AKP have what they couldn’t possibly have thought – a great Duane Eddy riff to kick off a great rocking tune called "Coming Up" Some nice, sharply played guitar - with more than one lick in the locker and a good musicianly flow.
MY SALVATION, with "Someone To Blame" sound like the younger contenders. A slack-tuned bass gives them a slow start, but they get up and running and make some half decent guitar noise. Plus some indecently swooshy wah wah that I could probably live with for more than a bar or two.
DELTA VOLTS have a track called "Get Out" that comes from the same dark stable as their last contender. There's a hint of Placebo that they would probably not have noticed. It’s the very personal touch with additions of carefully distorted and mangled up backing stuff. And more good guitar.
The York Music Collective are on to something here.
http://www.yorkollective.co.uk
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