EASTSTRIKEWEST - review added 23rd September 2009
Album Review: Wolvves (2009)
For fans of: Alt Rock... and melodious whining
Wolvves gets off to a very good start for me. The band's name Eaststrikewest is strangely inspiring and catchy, I love the retro-technical artwork, and even the first track sounds incredible and uplifting. So how and why did it all go so wrong?
Tom Clark (vocals), Liam Davis (guitars), Steve Marciano (keyboards & guitars), James Saddington (guitars), Ian Smith (drums) and Joseph Smyth (bass) are undoubtedly a bunch of talented musicians. I don't get on with Tom Clark's vocals...something we'll get onto in a minute...but listening to Wolvves suggests these guys are top-dollar when it comes to performing.
The production and arrangements by Daniel Abela and Howard Felton respectively are nigh on perfect too. This is a clear-sounding album with a biblically proportioned aura draped across it. The songs are the size of a small country and have a depth you could drown Mount Olympus in.
The problem, however, is the actual vibe of the album. It's partly down to the way Tom sings, partly down to the overall mood they've created, but it sounds soooooo moan-filled and whiny. Imagine Muse with really bad depression, or Keane and Coldplay having a fight over who is the most irritating... Wolvves makes them sound joyous and spunky.
I know there are going to be thousands, if not millions of people across the U.K., Europe and the rest of the world who will love this, but I REALLY can't stand it. It's like listening to someone running their fingers down a blackboard whilst a dentist performs root canal work on you with a hammer and chisel. I literally, not even in a metaphorical way, shouted "CHEER UP!" at the speakers about a 3rd of the way through. That is not a good sign!
The instrumental opener 'God Can't Take His Eyes Off Me' is fantastic, as is the instrumental (again) 'Chu!' Parts of 'The Architect' aren't terrible, and the end section of 'Electricity' is appealing, but the remainder leaves me as cold as a liquid nitrogen cocktail.
I can't stand Coldplay and I'm not a fan of Keane or Muse. The fact Wolvves sounds like a combination of all three was never going to stand Eaststrikewest in good stead. Technically this is an outstanding release but, in reality, I'd rather listen to Rolf Harris singing 'Stairway To Heaven' whilst being interfered with by a bored goat. Take it away!
Check out... Something else, unless you dig the depressing dross bands like C*ckplay pump out - if you do, this'll give you wet dreams..
Track List:
1. God Can't Take His Eyes Off Me
2. Stumble
3. Welcoming The Ghosts
4. Chu!
5. The Architect
6. Every Word And Whisper Said
7. Electricity
8. From Here You Can See Everything
Artist's website(s): MySpace
