This week we’ve got a bit of an EP special this week, looking at some of the best talent from up and coming bands - The Loungs, Cheapskate and The Maybes?
Reviewer Rikki Wright’s pick of the current releases by Merseyside bands/artists
The Loungs 'We Are The Champ'
Wickedly funny catchy feelgood indiepop with a bright alternative feel.
‘Armageddon Outta Here’ bounces along, in a slightly Housemartins sort of way, with superb harmonies and a very jolly tune, and you’re smiling along, enjoying the happy ride, until you actually start to listen to the words. Uh oh! You really don’t want to be the person THAT song is about, oh no you don’t! It’s brilliant! ‘Electric Lights’ is a proper enjoyably raucous punky beardy weirdy racket, while ‘I’m Gonna Take Your Girl Away’ starts off all gentle and sweet, and turns into a superb rowdy blarty brass kick ass number that’s a wee bit Captain Beefheart, and Love, and maybe even a little bit Zappa! Great stuff!
A superb band this one, both live and on disc, and this album will be sure to win them a whole host of new fans.
Standout song - ‘Armageddon Outtta Here’
Cheapskate ‘King of All England’.
Do not underestimate this man for he is good!
Cheapskate is one of those absolute gems that lie hidden as far as mass recognition goes, because they don’t have the financial and promotional muscle of a major record label behind them.
This EP is bursting with witty, inventive, beautifully crafted Bluenote songs in a Scouse accent that bring a smile to the face and a lift to the heart. It reminds a little of the great Alan Price and Georgie Fame, with its utterly groovy hepcat feel that somehow has you thinking of British crime caper Gangster no.1.
If the sound production is a little raw in places, it somehow adds to the authentic feel, resulting in something both evocative and interesting. It’s a fantastic EP, crammed full of Cheapskate’s hugely likeable exuberant Nu-Scouse merriment, which has your toes tapping from the word go. And while you’re on his MySpace site listening to his fabulous music, do yourself a favour and read his blog about Rod Hull and Emu. It is the funniest thing I have read in a long time!
Standout song ‘You know’
For ‘King of All England’ visit -
www.cheapskatemusic.co.uk/player.htm
The Maybes? 'Olympia'
The Maybes? are great, and this EP, 'Olympia' featuring ‘The Rock n Roll,’ ‘Actions,’ ‘Get on the Resin’ and ‘Supercharge’ gives the listener some idea of just how good they are.
Nick Ellis is so charismatic you could power a small city on the glow he gives off, and the rest of the band complement him beautifully with their superb musicianship, Nick Oaegui on bass particularly stands out, but they’re actually all very good. This is a proper band, full of interesting characters, who clearly love what they do, and work together to make them one of the most exciting bands you could ever wish to see and hear. There’s something reminiscent of the early Rolling Stones, Cream, and The Doors about the Maybes? and yet there is nothing retro about them, they are instantly recognisable for playing their exhilarating Rock ‘n’ Roll music in a fresh new way that is set to take the world by storm.
Standout song – ‘The Rock ‘n’Roll’
www.myspace.com/themaybesliverpool