Frenetics - Broken Hand EP Review
As an entrance Broken Hand works in demonstrating the Frenetics’ facets, both good and dubious, but the element lacking is originality.
rating: 3
Facebook Release Date: 11th JuneMaking comparisons is one way to set up some level of accessibility with the British public: Hey, we sound a bit like (generally respected band from the same genre)! No way! I love (generally respected band from the same genre)! I will definitely listen out for you and potentially spend money to see your gig! And so it unfolds Frenetics as a new band cant be blamed for trying out this formula but when youre placing yourself alongside 70s new wave rock legends Television and Magazine, youve got to have the sound to back it up. It is a brave band that shackles their first EP with such high expectations and Broken Hand, though promising, doesnt quite hit those lofty heights.
Opening up the EP is Ella, which with a video and top billing on the track-list leads me to take this as the bands calling card and a sign of what their sound is all about. Opening in a stampede of drum beats (thank you drummer Sam) and guitar feedback the song promises attack by the bucket loads but never truly delivers. Sure, theres a nice suspenseful guitar riff middle eight section but instead of building on that and the potentially angst-ridden emotions of the lyrical matter (the ends of a relationship by the sounds of it) Ella comes across more like an Artic Monkeys cast-off not helped out much by lead singer Gavins slightly whiny vocal delivery and the sheer noise level of the last third drowning out any sense of rhythm or flair the band showed in the opening section. Satellites follows a similar blueprint of not really showcasing the potential of the band despite lyrics of near pop-sentiment levels (Show where you want me to love ya under the stars and satellites being the main example). Whereas Ella was noise over substance, Satellites aims at laidback rock sensibility only to go off-course hitting Planet Monotony. http://youtu.be/krR4awieaGs Before I start proclaiming Broken hand? More like broken band Guffaw (which would frankly be awful and send this review straight into the Daily Mail pits of childish puns) theres a light at the end of the tunnel. See You On The Other Side is a noticeably different strain for Frenetics and all the better for it. The compositions here are much more complex with noticeable guitar layers all over the shop and Gavins vocals are much more suited to the shout/murmur counterpoint of the chorus to the verses. It sounds slicker and more interesting than the previous two songs with a definite nod to the 70s new wave artists they cited originally. Not as complete or convincing as those artists mind but its a first EP, theres room to build on that. Then it keeps getting better - Swing Kids is by far the stand-out of the EP which is rarely the case when it comes to EP/Album closers. Sonically, the lyrics may be repetitive (which isnt necessarily a bad thing in this case) but the riffs courtesy of Alex and Jacko (Guitar and Bass respectively) come straight to the fore, kept suitably restrained for the first half only to explode into an instrumental section that slows to a grinding, ominous feedback heavy climax. In terms of tempo and composition its a little like a punkier, condensed, distinctly British version of Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen by Santana but dont read too much into that because they are both very different beasts. As an entrance Broken Hand works in demonstrating the Frenetics facets, both good and dubious, but the element lacking is originality. The indie/punk/rock scene is hardly seeing a revival in terms of commercial success despite radio backing and even this is often limited to established acts or acts with previous album releases under their belts. Supporting Band of Skulls, who are Radio 1s current obsession in the genre, will be hugely beneficial to their progression as a band (and I can already hear their influence in this EP) but they need to decide where they can slot in in the current indie landscape. Young Guns have already achieved success in their accessible pop-punk, Spector have been filling the Editors/White Lies void for deep-voiced stadium rock-pop and, as much as I enjoyed Swing Kids, its still quite similar to the Artic Monkeys recent output Suck It And See in terms of brooding intensity (Dont Sit Down Cause Ive Moved Your Chair for example). Finding a shade somewhere in between will be Frenetics challenge but they definitely have a set of musical tools in their (not broken) hands.