Sidewinder CD By Nick Quantrill

Photograph Gallery   Sidewinder Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,

With their high quality and energetic live shows, Sidewinder are regarded as one of the finer Hull bands. Looking as comfortable playing to a packed house at the Kingston Communications Stadium as they do playing in the local pub, Sidewinder have demonstrated their ability to capture the imagination of a given audience. Heading to London to record this five-track demo, they attempt to build on the promise of the live appearances in the studio environment. All five tracks display interesting facets of the band and the songs that are initially the catchiest paradoxically reveal themselves to be the least interesting.

Opening track Big Parade showcases the bands influences keenly. Drawing on the classic English style of bands such as The Kinks, The Small Faces and The Who, Big Parade is propelled by its sparky guitar riff before leading into its sing along chorus. Holy Roller follows in a similar vein but this time it's catchiness derives from the rhythm section of the band as they propel the song along. What's evident is that one of the strengths of the band is their ability to create vocal harmonies.

The harmonies have that great rough and ready feel that all the great bands enjoy, though a little more imagination and variety in the arrangements wouldn't go amiss. The band sound much more vibrant when the vocals are unforced. On occasion the vocals strain to affect a style similar to Kelly Jones or Liam Gallagher and it doesn't really convince.

Living Is Easy sees the band step over the fine line they have been negotiating in the first two songs. Although the band enjoys an unashamedly retro 1960s sound, Living Is Easy sounds more of a parody of the bands influences. Although it's an infectious pop number that you'll hum instantly, it's too derivative of the mod sound of The Small Faces in particular to be taken seriously.

Spent Time is in a different class to the previous tracks. Its stop/start rhythm, chiming lead guitar and close vocal harmonies are reminiscent of the great soul and rhythm 'n' blues covers that found their way onto The Beatles early albums. The Beatles were taking these records and stamping their own distinctive brand of beat music onto them to pioneer a new sound. Sidewinder are following this example and by adding a distinctly modern guitar sound to the mix, they start to shape an individual sound of their own for the first time on the CD.

All In Your Mind continues in this vain and sees Sidewinder move away from the more easily identifiable sound of the opening tracks. Closing track All In Your Mind sees the band move towards a heavier, rockier sound and has shades of Oasis and The Who, but also the great driving rhythm that is a Sidewinder trademark.

How good Sidewinder want to be is up to them. It is certainly evident that Sidewinder are capable of crafting catchy, interesting material and are one of the more accomplished bands on the local circuit. Whether they can make the leap out of the local circuit and onto the national stage, the jury is still out.

Sidewinder could take the easier route of being a good-time pub band playing catchy, albeit a little boring and predictable, pop songs or alternatively they could really stretch themselves and explore the potential displayed on the CD's later tracks. Hopefully it will be the later because with a little more focus and imagination, they could become an accomplished band worthy of more attention and praise.

For more information go to: Website: www.sidewinderband.co.uk

Check the thisisUll.com Photo gallery from U11 304 Showcase at the Welly - 11th March 04 By Cilla

Photograph Gallery   Sidewinder Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,

Single Reviews The Concretes - Seems Fine (single/ EMI) By Steve Rudd
	If you want to feel refreshed and plain good about life, then it's imperative that Stockholm outfit The Concretes are checked out ASAP. Laying claim to almost as many band members as The Polyphonic Spree, there are eight of them, coolly fronted by sultry vocalist Victoria Bergsman. Read more...

Album Reviews - Silver Sun - Disappear Here (Invisible Hands Records) By Nick Quantrill
	Back in the days of Brit Pop, when guitar bands desperately aped Oasis, one band was bucking this trend by trying to assert some individuality and kick back against the corporate sea of mediocrity. Despite several chart-hits and an ever growing live following, Silver Sun were amongst the Read more...

Album Reviews - Turismo - Too Tall For Fashion By Jason Karlson
	There are some amazing bands that simply cannot be contained on a shiny silver disk. Fonda 500's CD releases are always breathtakingly energetic and creative but they still can't capture the sheer vigour and unchecked energy of their live appearances. Turismo are another band who Read more...

Album Reviews Richard Stevenson - Promises Promises By Daniel Laney
	I must admit getting motivated in the morning is one of the hardest things I have to achieve. Outside its cold and wet, mushy decaying leaves lie everywhere and a shed load of bills await you at the front porch and you know full well that the postman has taken great pleasure wedging as much Read more...

Single Reviews - Gomez - Sweet Virginia (single/ Virgin) By Steve Rudd
	The Gomez guys have long impressed the nation with their inspired ability to effectively fuse all manners of different musical genres together to form one thoroughly satisfying whole. Whether they're incorporating elements of heart-breaking blues, crafty jazz Read more...

Album Reviews - The Supatones - Unity Ave (Do The Dog) By Steve Rudd
	Living up to their name in the most impeccable manner imaginable, this Hull-based band releases its astonishing debut album with an accompanying, nationwide tour to promote the beauty. For the best part of November and the first half of December these Read more...

Single Reviews Camera - Hurt (single/ My Kung Fu) By Steve Rudd Release Date: 22nd November 2004.
	Think of all the anthemic rock bands that Wales has loudly and proudly produced over the years such as The Manics, The Stereophonics and The Alarm (to name just a few), and then think again, for here is a new quartet in the form of Camera that are hacking out a truly Read more...

Album Reviews - Tapewyrm Records Compilation - Segments Volume 1 (12-track album) By Steve Rudd
	Far from being just another compilation album of half-rate tracks by bands most people have never heard of, this Tapewyrm release provides the best opportunity imaginable for the listener to get to know the label's six acts a whole lot better. OK, so the bands aren't that well Read more...