Reviews

Hot on the heels of a whole host of groups with Hey, Hey We're the Arctic Monkeys pretensions, come a band who have embraced the sound of the decade and have (most importantly) made it their own.

Blue Noise's consistently excellent songs are made up of distinctive vocals, fast moving guitars and even faster moving drums.

Matt, Blue Noise

The Sound of Brilliance

The result is a more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts explosion of brilliance guaranteed to quicken the pulse and make you fall in love with music again.

From the opening bars of "Best Laid Plans" you know you are onto something special.

With a cheeky nod to the Ramones' "We're a Happy Family", Blue Noise are off.

It's a fast and furious ride around a dead end town ("I can't take it any more/and all I've got left is a nil-nil score") and they won't be stopping for stragglers.

He Bangs the Drums (a lot)

As with every song that follows there are drums bashing out a billion beats a minute here. It's not often that drummers get any thanks in music reviews. This is a shame.

Joe, Blue Noise

Often ignored, the drums form the bedrock of any band's line up. So let's take a moment to raise a glass to the drummer from Blue Noise.

His name is Will Hall and he's flippin' fantastic. Just listen to "Landmines" if you don't believe me.

Meanwhile, upfront, lead vocals are taken by Joe Wellfair, a Brian Molko/Brett Anderson hybrid of a singer who snarls like the best of them through songs about boredom, misery and despair.

Same but Different

While the songs cover the same old themes covered by thousands of bands for several decades, they are delivered in a fresh way that entertains and even thrills.

This is down to a twisted genius for lyrics that lesser bands would kill for.

"Like a policeman with a bloody nose/thinking next time I'll wear plain clothes" run a couple of lines from "Falling off the Floor".

Will, Blue Noise

Elsewhere Wellfair cries out: "I've got twelve door bells that just won't ring/I've got half a choir but they just won't sing" from "Last Legs".

There’s a sense of passion and invention here that hits you with the force of a lightning bolt.

These boys know what they're doing. You'll be in safe hands with these guys - well, as safe as it's possible to be when lightning is involved.

We Gotta Get Out of this Place

Not for Blue Noise the drippiness of following dreams with the pre-requisite references to flowing rivers, winding roads and eternal sunsets.

Oh no. It's bloody noses, faulty doorbells and mute choirboys all the way here.

Behind the imaginative turns of phrase, Blue Noise's lyrics paint pictures of a desperation to escape the dreariness of the every day.

"Just close your eyes 'cos grey is such a dull colour and it's everywhere" rings one line from "Getting Younger", a song filled with fear of staying stuck in the same place.

Nine to Fivers of the World Unite

It's a sentiment that office drones everywhere would agree with.

Adam, Blue Noise

Strange then that these words being sung by a 17 year old - and a very world weary 17 year old at that.

There would have to be a certain amount of world weariness going on for you to sing a line like "I'd fight to the death if I believed in a cause" on the scorching hot standout track "Landmines".

In this band, we may have found a new hope for local music of the indie variety...and this is surely a good thing.

The future's bright. The future's Blue Noise.

This article is an external contribution and expresses a personal opinion, not necessarily the views of the BBC.

______________________________________

If you're involved in the Gloucestershire music scene and you would like Stephen to review your music, please feel free to get in touch. Either email gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk or send your album and a bit about yourself to:

CD reviews
BBC Gloucestershire Online
London Road
Gloucester
GL1 1SW

______________________________________