DEMOS

WE WANT YOUR MUSIC!

IF YOU’RE AN UP AND COMING BAND OR MUSICIAN, AND WOULD LIKE YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED IN OUR DEMO SECTION, EMAIL A TRACK TO NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF!

WORDS: MATT YOUNG DEMO OF THE MONTH

Brick – Blanket of Love

Bridie Jackson (composer and singer) and Nick Pierce (viola player) are very well known on the local scene and beyond. Perhaps more of an undiscovered secret is the ‘dreamy acoustic music’ they started making together in the 2020 lockdown, and have continued to self-record and produce since from their home, The Brick House, in Newcastle. Blanket of Love is a beguiling piece that simply and clearly intimates the love felt in the midst of trust and kindness. Being there for someone is a selfless act, that lack of expectation. Bridie’s warm sung vocals swoon all over the sparse instrumentation and you can feel the love radiate from the track as you listen. www.facebook.com/bricktunes

Peony – Varmint Rifle

Yet more new duo action in this month’s demos, this time erring on the growled end of the rock spectrum. Citing PJ Harvey, Pixies and Nick Cave as a few influences, Peony launch into Varmint Rifle with a gusto that also brings to mind the bass-heavy riffing, spacey reverbed vocal and drum pounding desert rock of QOTSA. Ryan drums and Will sings and plays guitar, and they construct songs from improvised sessions together. This single is equal parts vital, thrilling and scuzzily melodic. With an album of material, Vast Animals, ready to go, the pair could be fantastic live prospect to catch soon.

www.peonyduo.bandcamp.com

Dinky Bossetti – I Kissed A Boy

Another duo, soon to become trio, Jade Mia Broadhead and Aria Nash set about whipping up a musical storm of all-trans Riot Grrrl punk, rock, metal and essential gnarly music. This Jade-penned song is about her ultimately “fruitless attempt to ease gender dysphoria”. We’re in a reality that’s worlds away from Katy Perry, all title connections aside; the lyrics outlining an experience (of kissing said boy) of treachery, lechery and pointlessness. A vocal taking suitably sneering aim at male fragility and insensitivity ensues with musical backing abrasively ringing out amongst the narrative’s almost uncomfortable telling. As an initial single it sets the band’s stall out well, let no fools be suffered and treat women with deserving tenderness! www.dinkybossetti.bandcamp.com

Trunk – Save

I make little notes when hearing new music, whether I’m reviewing or not, and listening to Trunk’s song Save. I have scribbled the words ‘sonic turbulence, Sonic, Biffy, dirty Coxon riffs.’ I guess I should go backwards to expand further…Blur’s self-titled fifth album gave Coxon a freer hand and the resulting bent, skewed riffs combined shiny bright pop with chaotic eruptions. Similarly, Sonic Youth on their A Thousand Leaves album added more considered melodies amongst their feedback barely 18 months later. Biffy Clyro formed right between these two releases and it’s this exact melding of pop and rock that I can ‘feel’ here on Save. Not that Trunk are copyists in any sense, they just squeeze these musical references together and the influences seeping out of the speakers is undeniable. Touches of Blur, Biffy and Sonic Youth within Save elevate it hugely. It’s an interesting amalgam, as someone on the outside looking in, and works particularly well on this track. www.facebook.com/trunkband.ls

Swindled – Extermination Station

There’s a natural sounding pop rock bounce to this song from new Sunderland five-piece Swindled, formed of fresh college acquaintances. They’re clearly a band, in this instance at least, comfortable with a narrative storytelling style that fans of Steve Cradock, Kelly Jones or even the Gallaghers would recognise. Whether that’s true of other songs we’ll have to wait and see, but on this alone Swindled definitely know how to construct a hooky track, with confident playing and singing to match the song’s concise turnaround.

www.linktr.ee/swindledofficial