Max Levine Ensemble, Men Diamler and ONSIND Photo Special

Max Levine Ensemble, Men Diamler and ONSIND @ Slak Cheltenham Saturday 16th October 2010

This was one of the most exciting shows of the year for me so far, partly because it was the Max Levine Ensemble, partly because it was in a tiny little bar and partly because it was just two pounds to get in. With such an incredible line up on a Saturday night in a nice venue it was a show guaranteed to fill up quickly.

As ONSIND, or One Night Stand in North Dakota to give this Durham two-piece their full title, opened they turned mic stands to face each other; I feared the performance would be confrontational and aggressive. However, the face to face style actually made the sound more personal and created an equality to each track and emphasised the role each man has in the band. Musically the harmonies and balance between both voices were beautiful. The passion and emotion of lyrics and vocals created a live show which was compelling to watch. The quality of the set and balance between tracks was absolutely perfect with everything flowing gently into the next part. The intermissions were filled with awkward chatter, which only made the band more likeable.



After a performance full of honesty and emotion the evening progressed onto the wildcard that is Men Diamler, a man whose spontaneous performances mean you never know what to expect. The opening few songs were performed standing with a microphone, lulling the audience into a sense of false security before the show was taken to every inch of the venue. Audience members were serenaded and generally invited to participate in the set by singing, stamping, clapping, or in any way they felt appropriate. It’s hard to focus on the amazing level of the music and lyrics Men Diamler performs with as his live shows are so compelling. His impressive vocal range and clever lyrics balance surrealism and raw emotions in a very relatable style.

Although the previous acoustic acts didn’t lead up to Max Levine Ensemble’s punk pop, the surprise element of a band tearing through a set in such a small venue and at such a fast pace created a great atmosphere. The band fixated me from the first to last song of their set, as despite playing ferociously fast versions of tracks from their five releases, they did not sacrifice any musicianship or skill from the vocals. This was a fine example of what punk bands should aspire to with a positive DIY attitude, and gratitude to the audience for coming to see them play. The band put everything into every moment of the show and enjoyed themselves onstage, which is all a live music lover ever wants to see.

As this Washington based three-piece played I was left wondering how they (and the other two acts) had come to be playing in such a small venue, which made me realise how lucky I was to be seeing such a line up. The exclusivity you feel watching such a great show in a small venue adds to the memorable nature. This show was what DIY promoting is all about, surprising people with amazing line-ups in tiny venues.

Talons – Hollow Realm (Big Scary Monsters Records)

This is a record that you hear, and from the first to last note, you know you are listening to something truly special. Despite being instrumental throughout, this album conveys more emotion and contains more suspense than almost every album I have heard this year, or ever if I’m completely honest.

As each track progresses into the next there is no feeling of one track ending and another beginning; the album seems to be an entire piece of music and should only be listened to in this way. The emotion and suspense are created beautifully through balanced musicianship and a sense that every part has been thought through in length. There are moments of uncomfortable distortion which lead beautifully into almost brutal guitar riffs which in turn lead into contrasts with delicate, beautiful violin lines.

There are elements that remind me of the ambiance of Sigur Ros, these are paired with guitar and drum lines that would be at home on any metal album, and a general sense of drama and emotion. These comparisons are what make this album so fascinating to listen to. Talons seem to be a band who will take instrumental music to a whole new level with their very unique sound. This is the kind of album you can put on whilst walking and it will create a sense of tension and drama to even the most mundane of walks.

I know to the lack of vocals will put some people off, but you seriously will not notice that there are no vocals as the instrumentation creates far more drama and emotion than the majority of lyrics.

This is not so much an album but more of a symphony, it sounds like every single note has been carefully considered before the reaction on every other instrument is then considered. This is an album of complex beauty and wonder, I was blown away from the very first listen and with every subsequent listen I discover something I have previously missed. If this review was not enough to make you want to go and buy the record, or at least go and see Talons live, see the record as an investment, I can assure you that you will play it to death in your quest to find every standout moment on the album.

Not Cool photo special

God Damn photo special

Heebie Jeebies photo special

Moondad photo special

The End of Out Of Step in Wolverhampton - Sad Times and Rad Times

Monday saw Wolverhampton wave goodbye to Out Of Step’s monthly shows, but not before an incredible leaving party featuring four amazing bands. From the moment Moondad took the stage you could tell it was going to be a special night, they played their hearts out and brought headline quality to the bottom of the bill.

Their combination of shoegaze and noise was delivered with intelligence and bags of energy. It is rare  for a band inspired by shoegaze and noise to be easily accessible without loosing too much of their experimental side, however Moondad were an exception. Their set was topped off with a great Smiths cover, usually I hate covers within a bands set but great covers were to develop into one of the themes for the night.

Sheffield tropical punks Heebie Jeebies were next to blow the audience away, and despite the brilliance of Moondad they took it up another level. The combination of noticeable influences from almost every type of music imaginable, deep vocals and obscure lyrics creates a sound unlike any other. This individual style is thrashed out at a furious pace live and is impossible not to enjoy.

God Damn were next to tackle the ever raising bar of brilliance and created a style which chopped and changed as their set progressed. The elements of hardcore were loud and aggressive, at times the riffs were raw and huge, and just to keep the audience guessing there was even some incredible harmonica. God Damn again delivered a faultless cover with a truly individual reworking of a Strokes track. As the hardcore scene develops in Wolverhampton God Damn offer hardcore with something more experimental and with a fantastic lofi DIY feel throughout.

Finally after the audience and the promoters were hyped to the max, by three of the best sets in Out Of Step history, Not Cool took the stage. These Dalston based punks are one of the best acts Out Of Step have put on and deserve every success. Their individual sound has elements of early indie such as the Pixies and Smiths combined with punk and hardcore throughout it’s existence to create an instantly recognisable sound. Fuzzy guitars are balanced with energetic baselines, passionate vocals and frantic drumming. The band topped off the night with a great cover of one of my favourite songs by the Minutemen.

Tonight showed that Wolverhampton still had a heart but unfortunately for Out Of Step and Alchemy it was a case of too little too late. Tonight’s varied line up showed examples of four incredible live bands at the top of their game, please go and check them all out.

Liam O'Kane - Voice Of The Equal

This is an EP I have been looking forward to getting hold of as Liam O’Kane’s debut album ‘Happy Days Sad Songs’ was one of my favorite records of last year. This EP is the first release on Off Cut Records which is a label founded by Liam earlier this year.

After the forst listen of the EP the first thing I noticed was this EP was a progression on from the first record which although fantastic crept closer to a full band sound this EP is unmistakably a solo recording. The sound Liam has is original and refreshing the acoustic ska/ reggae he plays takes influence from artists such as Babar Luck, Vic Ruggiero and Chris Murray in small parts.

Lyrically the record tackles life, love and politics in a mature clever fashion, with every word being backed up by Liam’s incredible vocal style and unquestionable passion. The powerful vocals add real emphasis to title track ‘Voice Of The Equal’ with a more tender side exposed on ‘In Music Lost’, which tells the stories of musical inspiration throughout Liam’s life.

The mature sound present in both the music and vocals creates an EP that flows nicely between tracks and my only complaint is that it’s only 5 tracks long. If the development continues between this recording and the next at the same level it has previously the next recording from Liam O’Kane will be phenomenal as I would place this EP and the debut album on a must have list.

Over all this record is a mature piece of work from a young artist who deserves to be successful from his solo work as he is one of the most exciting acts around. This EP is perfect for summer and will bring a hint of sunshine even to a rainy day, more importantly you should support the DIY scene in this country and in particular independent record labels such as Off Cut Records.