OH SEES - Smote Reverser (Album Review)

With the fluency of which ideas come to the mind of John Dwyer, Commander in chief of Californian, psych-garage-rock extraordinaires Oh Sees, it must be essential that he records as many albums as his unprecedented talent allows, or risk self-combustion.  A minimum of two LP’s a year the usual output.  With this latest exploration into rock hallucinogenica, there are moments that almost resemble traditional song-writing, the groove machine that is ‘C’ a prime example. Of course this notion is broken with absolute bone crunchers, ‘Overthrown’, along with the band’s trademark space-rock launches to destinations unknown.  After all Dwyer has become the key-master of the genre, able to alter his surroundings at will.

John Peel famously described The Fall as “always different, always the same”, which can also be said of Oh Sees.  ‘Smote Reverser’ delivers everything  you expect from an Oh Sees album, whilst surprising throughout.  The Oh Sees influence has surfaced of late, with a string of psyche bands making waves, and while King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are very good, Oh Sees are great. 

 

Words by Ben Barry.

 

 

THE SURRENDERS - Shouldn't Have To Dig (Single Review)

West Midlands based four piece The Surrenders first came on my radar when they supported local indie heroes The Scruff at Esquires in Bedford a couple of months back. Having shared many stages recently for This Feeling, The Scruff recruited The Surrenders as main support for their hometown gig and it was an inspired choice as the band's raucous blues rock won them a whole host of new fans.
 
Having since played their self titled EP to death I was glad I wouldn't have to wait long for new music from The Surrenders, as their new single Shouldn't Have To Dig is released this Monday, 3rd August.

The track has a real retro feel about it and you can tell the band are massively influenced by the 60s. Combining the tight musicianship of the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Connor Brooks' cocksure, soulful vocals, if you shut your eyes it could almost be the summer of love again. In terms of more recent influence you could argue that guitarist Richard Jones' heavy riffs are reminiscent of John Squire's during the Second Coming era. It's the sort of song you can imagine going off with much throwing of beer and limbs at small venues and large ones alike and hopefully it can propel The Surrenders to the next level.

Words by Danny Buckley