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7 BIT ARCADE
EP Review: Trim the Barber
By Katy | 6th April 2012
Being described, in short, as psychedelic – post punk- shoegazers and likened to The Cure among others made me very interested to see what this London-based band had to offer on their self-titled four track EP. The song titles are to the point which is much like their songs. Occupation has the heavy drum beat alongside the echoing guitar and light bass line with a space sound pulsing alongside them. It sounds like a haunting track and when the vocals kick in they too echo and pulse through the song, building up to the chorus with a rampaging mash of instruments. The song is a recognition of the destroying nature of everyday life and the idea that there is more to life than your work. The theme of the EP seems to continue on with the idea that things are dreary and unimaginative.
Autocue is about lack of thought and challenging your surroundings. Once again the heavy drum beat is the linchpin with guitars swirling round the track. The vocals ‘Waiting, writing, living, dying’ reverberate in the background to present the grim and desolate nature of life. The way the vocals come together to shout these lyrics presents the idea of the masses and the mainstream as a world devoid of substance, something which I think this band are seeking to breakthrough and smash to pieces with something that is in your face and aggressive.
Digitalis follows with a bleak view of the modern age detailing the view of digital media against treasured materialistic, hard copies of photos and records or cds. With very british vocals shouting ‘You can’t pixelate me’, it sounds like a loud, brash rally against the way that our lives and loves are celebrated.
Reality bounds right in with the rolling drum beat and guitar reverb to create a fast-paced track. The vocals echo in the background to make the drums and the erratic guitar at the forefront of your listening attention. This is where I can see comparisons with bands like The Cure as it has the same kind of power and quirkiness of a masculine nature. The lyrics do not seem as important here and what really keeps this song alive is the disarray of all the instruments over the quieter more gentle vocals. It’s a punchy ending to leave you wanting more.
This is clearly a band who are bored and angry over the state of culture and life today. Their music is there to get this message across in a way that makes you think, through their lyrics and the layered sound that they produce. I would definitely say in a sea of identikit indie bands that are revered by theNME this band present something definitely different. I have read that their live shows are loud and on the basis of this EP I could see them blowing some ears off.
