Carnival Club | Follow The Sun | Single Review

With tons of upcoming bands emerging from the city of Manchester its tough for any new band to break through the music barrier yet for Carnival Club they smashed they’re way through with force. The quartet of Manchester based lads not only acquire the sheer rock appearance with their patterned shirts and long greased up hair but, their music style has made an embedded home within the heart of Manchester.

Their new single ‘Follow The Sun’ released in late September binds feelings of riding in the back of pick-up down some West Coast boulevard, with the suave plunging guitars but, with added touches of let’s bring the ceiling down with John’s driving drum beat, the song never becomes too chilled. With many of Carnival Club’s tunes I’m always pulled into versatile vibes ‘Follow The Sun’ however, takes me back to that same ragged tone from Oasis, this is heightened in Kai’s strong, raw vocals which add that kick of idiosyncrasy into a song that really delivers.

With lyrics about Champagne Lovers and stargazing there is a subtle romantic feel to the song, that I love, and partnered with the guitars and crashing cymbals the song embodies a soft rock with a built up ending. For young lads they certainly set the bar high and I for one will be excited for what they have to produce in the future.

Review by Bronte Mitchell

The Claremonts | This Is Your Life | Single Review

Indie rockers The Claremonts are rising through Manchester’s thriving music scene, to establish themselves as one of the most promising and identifiable bands on the scene. And are certainly making a critical impression with awards for ‘best drummer’, and ‘best original song’ already under their belt at the Greater Manchester Music Hub 2016.

From the second the infectious, Stone Roses-esque bassline thumps out on new single ‘This Is Your Life’ you would have a hard time guessing the band’s roots were anything but Mancunian. The spoken, angsty vocals of lead singer Finn Gildea, allow his regional accent to shine through and exaggerate the melancholy of lyrics “you’re nothing new”.

Yet the four-piece surprise with a much edgier, grunge-like chorus. The guitars and lung-busting vocals build into a crescendo of explosive, pent-up youthful unrest. Lyrically, ‘This Is Your Life’ is an anthem for the doomed times, telling all the mundanity of modern life – something that anyone can shout along to.

The Claremonts have seemingly nailed that perfect balance between taking inspiration from your idles – such as that raw emotion of Oasis, and the disdainfulness of The Smiths but without ripping them off.

In an over-crowded genre, The Claremonts have taken what they need from a musically rich culture and imbedded into it a maturity and sound that you don’t hear enough of these days.

Review by Katie Manning

CRY BABY | Pretty Boys (Plus B-Side) | Single Review

York four piece CRY BABY are back with their new single Pretty Boys, and have even gifted us with a B-side. If you’ve seen them live you’re probably familiar with these songs but if not you’re in for a treat. The recording of these tracks has kept in that raw gritty energy you get from these songs live.

Instrumentally both of these songs are some of their best, CRY BABY tracks are always full of powerful guitar riffs but they’ve strayed away from indie riffs in these songs, they’ve gone heavier. The drums in Pretty Boys really packs a punch, building up the energy straight away and keeping it at a high, this song is definitely one that will get a crowd going crazy. Brad Holleran’s bass provides such a gritty rhythm, that layered with the two guitars creates this really rocky sound. Olly Chilton’s guitar in this track is phenomenal, some of the licks within this song are real rock and roll, and the guitar solo at the end will tempt you into going back and repeating it.

The B-side of this song Differences, follows nicely from Pretty Boys, Jack Armstrong’s lyrics in the chorus “I need you to come and save me from myself / because I’m no good for my health” with the ghostly back-up vocals create an eerie feel to the song and dramatize the lyrics themselves.  A lot of the time when you hear the phrase “indie rock” it sounds heavily inspired by particular Manchester or Sheffield bands, but CRY BABY have brought out two indie rock songs that don’t sound like they idolise any particular band. They’ve got some heavy instrumental going on combined with Jack’s indie vocals create something a little bit different. I absolutely love the guitar melody within Differences, its sounds loose, easy and fun. Later in the song the guitars get more complex and go a little bit old school rock, it leaves your final impression of the song on a high.

CRY BABY - Pretty Boys - Spotify Link

Review by Holly Beson-Tams