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