Saturday 25th February 06 - Dirty Dreamers, Viper 88s, They Died Too Young, When Saturn Returns and Cat - Islington Lark In The Park (2/5) By Michelle Dee

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5).

Photograph Gallery   Cat Gallery,    When Saturn Returns Gallery,    They Died Too Young Gallery,    Viper 88s Gallery,    Dirty Dreamers Gallery ,    People Gallery .

It is vitally important to get a good sound check especially when playing out of town and even more so when you are the headline band. I felt the bands sound check was a cursory one that didn't cover all the essential sound levels etc. I am no engineer but I remember mentioning that Ash's vocal sounded thin and distant. A lot later my thoughts on the matter were backed up by Flo a regular gig goer in the bright lights of London town.

She confirmed what I had thought all along that the sound wasn't as good as it could have been. Anyway the other bands came in and all had their sound check and by about half eight nine o'clock we were ready to start.

First band on were Cat, earlier they had presented me with their Beautiful Freak Show CD and a rather impressive promo booklet. They began their set fairly quietly, and it's not until the second song that I began to feel involved. So much so, that I find myself trying to sing along although I don't know any of the words. There's classic rock elements spliced with breathy/brutal vocals from front woman Louise. She shows that she has a wide vocal range switching registers with ease.

I felt that at times tonight the sound let them down this was noticeable when it came to picking out the varied nuances in the vocals.

The different nationalities within the group lend the overall sound a European feel. The musicianship from the rest of the band is top notch, particularly Brazilian Rico's guitar riffs and solos. The drums seem to dominate at times but this could be down to the acoustics of the venue, or the fact I am barely two feet away from the stage. Towards the end of the set I sense something different, something brimming with feminine power and animalistic potency, Come on, come on you don't have to fake it.

Think seventies classic rock hangs out with Portishead at a PJ Harvey poetry comp. It's your beautiful self that we see, I hope so.

Next on tonight's rich and varied billing are a young looking band that I can only describe as Emo. Not being well versed in the genre I can only attempt to describe what I heard from When Saturn Returns. They too furnished me with a CD containing one of their opening songs, Third Step. It features a quiet understated opening then quickly morphs in to something else. Fast gritty guitars blend with a guttural vocal delivery, overlaying solid bass lines.

As far as I can gather, emo is partly about the juxtaposition of dark and light, soft and loud. The emotional lyrical content interspersed at regular intervals with dark storms of guitar and percussion. This sonic conflict is much like the years of adolescent torment that the teens, who seem to identify with the genre, endure. When Saturn Returns continue setting out their stall and I take a moment to remember how lucky I am to be in a position to witness yet more new music.

An earthy vocal introduces the start of Dead End Job, the rasping tone continues but for some unknown reason I am reminded of the stadium rock of Bon Jovi. I'll probably get no emo points for that one. Towards the end I felt the song had grown a bit predictable; however well delivered, I could still see where it was going to end.

Continued..... Next Page (3/5).

Photograph Gallery   Cat Gallery,    When Saturn Returns Gallery,    They Died Too Young Gallery,    Viper 88s Gallery,    Dirty Dreamers Gallery ,    People Gallery .

Music Reviews - Neville Staples, Quartermain and The Bonnitts at The Ringside, Monday 19th December 05 By Dick Spring Photos By Mo
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