The Sesh - Various Hull Heroes By Daniel Laney

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A long awaited Hull bands compilation CD can only be reviewed track by track. After listening to this really well compiled album by The Sesh's very own Mark Page, it was apparent that it had to be stripped down song by song to highlight a little bit about each band currently in the Hull area. Blueslide Circle - Hideaway As the name of the band suggests the blues are definitely a large influence on this groups writing process.

A sound that creates an image of nineteen thirties gangsters with their Tommy guns has been made using experimental guitar parts that bares much resemblance to Focus.

At the same time it also has a contemporary style that is commonly utilised by groups such as Gomez and this particular sound can be found on this track. The environment you could imagine yourself in when listening to this track would be a downtown swing/ lounge/bar in Chicago. A great way to open the CD with a dark moody sound and with a drum solo the song reaches its climax.

59 VIOLETS - Thugg First impressions of this track are heavy, heavy, heavy. An attention grabber from the start this garage rock-sounding group would be the perfect soundtrack to drive to. The bass drives the song throughout its entirety whilst high pitch screeching guitars put a slant on the fat riff causing a jerk reaction every time the chord is hit.

The song is brilliant, sleazy and seedy it has you nodding from the beginning.

THE APPLEWHITES - Old Routine The track begins with an obvious early Police sound however; the vocals have definitely got a modern rock band twist with a style used by The Vines. The beauty of this track is that it has a likeable monotonous tone, which ironically is uplifting. Juxtaposing feelings with sound the minor chords create a very dark enjoyable style; like watching Edward Scissor hands. Giving it 100% on the chorus the vocalist challenges all his energy to bring the song to new levels throughout.

Turismo - Chinese Torture The first thing that can be noticed on Chinese Torture is how much the vocal part sounds like a young Lou Reed. As with the Velvet Underground it is apparent that there is a tongue in cheek melancholy that lingers around the songs.

Coincidentally the song has an element of early Madness, this can be found in the tempo that the song has been created around. The song works through and around dark stimuli's with frantic drumbeats and satisfying breakdowns. Check out the guitar solo as well.

Windum Earl- Follow me down If you've ever seen Windum Earl live you will know to expect an atmospheric wall of sound. Follow me down captures everything the band can do live and more. Using voice as an instrument rather than as a means to make clear who is the front man, the singer intertwines his vocals into the overwhelming sound. As dark and as moody as Joy Division this track is definitely a tearjerker, however the impression that's been given may seem depressing, the sound is certainly uplifting in its own right. A colourful thought provoker and entertaining throughout if you love live recordings with loads of effects you'll adore this.

The Favours - Kill Kicks in the face from the word go, this is an absolute belter of a rock song! Filled with a new wave punk sound that a group such as The Hives sport, lyrics are spat at you, hurled at you and then stick to you as you find yourself singing this song for days. A slight Distillers style (very slight) can be heard but this only adds to the pleasure.

A clever use of harmonies makes this a stand out track.

The Bonnits - Bruised A raw sound that stings from the start like sand paper on your cheeks, The Bonnits husky front man conjures up images of bluesy bars and good time rock 'n' roll and perhaps it would be naïve to mention a very similar sound to The Zutons. This is yet another track from this brilliant compilation to get your head banging, the 60's feel really drives through and is carried by The Ramones style rhythm.

The Dirty Dreamers - Three Lines This is the perfect song to have a few beers to before you go out with your mates for the night and I can honestly say my fingers begin to ache after tapping along on the table to this catchy as hell number. With vocals that sound like the group James, Three Lines is a tremendous feel good song.

Black Jack - Long Haired Gypsy Woman You can lose yourself quite happily in this song and then fall in love with its up lifting riffs. What starts like Robert Plant only then becomes a parody of Guns and Roses and I feel that Black Jack definitely enjoy a little tongue in cheek action when it comes to creating music. What goes with this idea of using humour in songs is the tracks ability to reek of Presidents of the United States of America and at the same time sound like Free's Alright Now. The fat power and bar chords makes this an air guitarists dream.

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