It's a nice idea to create a sound that distinguishes a band "from the current dirge of landfill indie and pretentious identikit Electro". Trouble is, I've lost count of the number of press releases like this that claim that their band transcends or redefines all genres known to man.
A first step in a quest for uniqueness would appear to be the easiest - choose a band name that no one has thought of. The fact that Manchester based Fox Force Five fall at this first hurdle doesn't bode well.
Straightaway they have to distinguish themselves from a ska band from Pasadena and a Californian death metal band. Admittedly the latter add an 'x' to the beginning and end of the name (presumably to warn those of a delicate disposition), but the fact remains that Google searchers have to choose between these three bands and then disregard the Pulp Fiction movie reference links (Fox Force Five was the title of the failed pilot TV show 'featuring Uma Thurman's character Mia Wallace). As if this wasn't enough, the name is also used for cover version of the Samantha Fox's supremely tacky hit single 'Touch Me'!
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This four track debut EP by UK's very own Fox Force Five seems to be vying for a breed of eloquent blues meets pop meets rock sound but the hooks just aren't strong enough to pull this off. These are five guys who look mean and purposeful in publicity shots but display a curious lack of vitality on disc.
In the title song , dedicated to Kurt Vonnegut, they sound like a lightweight version of The Cult and lines such as "when did we last converse in romantic verse my love" would only sound good if delivered with tongue firmly in cheek.
It's early days yet, but this band certainly need a much more beefy sound if they are to convince that they truly have something different to set then apart from their numerous rivals.
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