EP Reviews THE BALCONY STARS Electric Lazarus
International Acts
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Something of an office favourite here at U&I Music Magazine, this Liverpool band are something of an under-rated gem in our book. Their new EP landed in our office and we instantly warmed to it. The opening track “Amen Sense” just goes in with all guns blazing. The sensational way that it blitzes across is down to the way that the bass on it supports it all the way through. It keeps it all together. The drawl from the vocals gifts it something additional that performs admirably here. There is a stark quality to their sound and they really hit it all spot on with the retro way their sound stands out for the right reasons. It squares all that away on “Kiss And Make It Better”. What is laid down by the band here commendably achieves what it sets out to do. The scattered and absorbing way that the playing seems to drop off in a way that appears apathy like is a likeable quality. It grants upon it the necessary time and space to breathe on the track. On “Sinners And Saviours” they literally tear into things. The zip from the guitar has a forsaken rhythm that steadily resonates and shakes it all up. The hang in the air from it is quite deliberate. That in turn builds up an evident and deliberate momentum for things here that forges ahead like a juggernaut, albeit one going at a set and steady pace. With “Dead Birds” the fetching way that a hush falls upon it speaks volumes for it. The laissez-faire vibe from it is something that seems tailor made for it. The rhythm is built to accommodate it, whole the tempo that results from this sits neatly with how both the lyrics and vocals manage to pair up. There exists some coldness from the whole process. A sterile quality if you will. Yet it is somehow all the more fetching for it. “Gods Speed” brings the curtain down on it. This is a real mover and shakes things up. The scatty rhythm to it sits perfectly on this tune
IKO - Dazed And Confused
The four track EP happens to be one of those fortunate enough to be blessed where all four are something of true substance. The first is the self-titled track. It rises up nicely. The awareness of how consequential it is becomes apparent as it gets going. The tight way that it is brings things together fuses the core and essential aspects of it by putting some thought behind the process. This careful consideration is what lends it the necessary gravitas.
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and is a great contrast to the way it seems to supress everything. There is a defined boost to it from the method adopted and the bass is superb. The wonderful way that it all runs is something that embodies everything you would want in a tune that is too cool for school.
“Lightning Bolts” has an impartial awareness going for it. The withdrawn way it sweeps along keeps it on course. The vocal delivery here has just as much say in things as the playing does. The procession of the whole song has bold strides made that fit neatly alongside the grandiose way it all fits together. It is such a beautiful and impressive effort. The withdrawn way it sweeps along keeps it on course. The vocal delivery here has just as much say in things as the playing does. The procession of the whole song has bold strides made that fit neatly alongside the grandiose way it all fits together. It is such a beautiful and impressive effort. Not to deliberately use a pun, but “Kites” has a graceful way of hanging in the air. It imparts some tapered thinking to produce this. The piano that plays out on it parlays ever so well across the whole process here. The lyrics turn in some impressive metaphors that burst with a creative sensibility to it all. They reclaim any lost ground that the song might be fighting for because of how intricate they prove to be. The way that things echo on bring real heart and honest endeavour to it in a way that it fetches forth and reaches out and touches. “Country Wedding” is the last track on here. Internalising all of the emotion involved the song manages to fulfil all expectations placed upon it. To call it an impeccable sounding tune is to do it a disservice. This goes beyond being something that could be perceived so simply. That is down to the rejoicing way that it projects upon it everything in the right measure. The way things are captured on this remain with it all the way through.
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