NARC. #168 December 20/January 21

Page 54

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 INFO@NARCMEDIA.COM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF! WORDS: JAMES HATTERSLEY

DEMO OF THE MONTH

Eve Cole – Tesco

gleeful pop guitar joins to form the backdrop for Cole’s exquisite

There have been many settings romanticised in pop. Clubs, parks and rock shows have all hosted intimate tales of amorous teenagers and their budding love. Somehow, Eve Cole is successful in adding Tesco to this list, and brings an honest sincerity that will leave you feeling joyful long after you’ve left the self-service checkout. Starting with sparse synth chords, a

Goat Majesty – Brown Ale

Imagine stumbling around a foggy and poorly lit graveyard in the dead of night. Cold and alone, you are suddenly confronted by the grim spectre of Death himself. What would that sound like? Well, Brown Ale by Goat Majesty cements that idea and gallops with it for six minutes and 31 seconds. An ambient synthetic terror, the track moves from splendidly bleak to fanatically macabre, always enticing you with a mirage of haunted noises and ever piling textures that will have you anticipating the worst. Nevertheless, this tense affair has a fragile beauty hidden beneath it, which can be found in shimmering melodies and a frank whimsicality that proves if you can see past the horror, you’ll find beauty. www.goatmajesty.bandcamp.com

Back In The Dark – Obsessed

Swelling squeals lure you into Obsessed, gradually increasing in tension before finally exploding in a relentless onslaught of stabbing drums and punctuated, distorted guitars which ultimately settle in a tantalising hard rock groove. After forging some excellent face

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vocals. The music is sparse but allows her unique style of vocals to stand out; her voice is a highlight and does well to draw you in to her simple yet effective songwriting. Full of hooks and infectious melodies, a meal deal has never sounded so delightful. www.soundcloud.com/wmcyoungmusiciansproject

melting manoeuvers, powerful vocals jam themselves on top of the chaos to push the track through to some impressive rhythmic shifts. A highlight of Obsessed is the instrumental build towards an anguished and relieved scream into some of the finest guitar rock riffs of 2020. Obsessed not only innovates but pays homage to past heavy hitters. The production is lavish and lush, showcasing the best of each component, melding them all into one cohesive rampage. www.facebook.com/backinthedarkofficial

Isabel Hudson – Sometimes

What is remarkable about Sometimes, is as soon as that first chord hits, you know exactly what you’re in for – a chill pop jaunt about not knowing your place in this strange and weird world. The strength of the track lies in Hudson’s vocal delivery, which is extremely accessible as it is magically pleasant. Her vocals melodies are contagious and fanciful, leading to some rather memorable moments that you will catch yourself humming. Backed by a superb and understated arrangement, only elevated by pristine backing vocals, this dazzling piece of contemporary pop meanders

along, never deviating dramatically but holding steady to deliver an outstanding and well calculated introduction to Isabel Hudson’s sound. www.soundcloud.com/ wmcyoungmusiciansproject

FAWNS – Bags And Boxes It has never occurred to me until listening to Bags And Boxes that after I’ve left this world some poor soul is going to have to organise and pack all the useless stuff that I’ve bought off eBay. While that might be a daunting trial, Bags And Boxes is certainly not. The graceful folk ballad depicts this process and ultimately tells a story of dealing with loss and retaining the memories of a deceased loved one. It’s gorgeously composed and features only a soft acoustic guitar (and a welcome harmonica solo) to distract from the frankly stunning harmonies. FAWNS accomplish making the idea of saying goodbye to someone a beautiful thing. Death may have a finality to it, however those bags and boxes are never truly packed. www.facebook.com/fawnsban


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DEMOS

3min
page 54

BASE CAMP

1min
page 53

NARBI PRICE

2min
page 52

TEES MUSIC ALLIANCE

3min
page 51

KAY GREYSON

1min
page 50

NORTH EAST FILM ROUND-UP

1min
page 49

NORTHERN STAGE’S YOUNG COMPANY

2min
page 48

NORTH EAST LABELS ROUND-UP

3min
page 46

CURIOUS ARTS

1min
page 45

TYNE BANK BREWERY

2min
page 44

LADY KITT

2min
page 43

MARTHA HILL

1min
page 42

VIRGIN MONEY UNITY ARENA

2min
page 41

STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

2min
page 40

TUSK FESTIVAL

2min
page 39

RICHARD DAWSON

3min
page 37

CROSSOVER COVERS

1min
page 36

COBALT STUDIOS’ EVERYDAY ART FOR EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

1min
page 35

LIVE THEATRE

2min
page 34

JODIE NICHOLSON

1min
page 33

TRACKS

2min
page 32

THE STAND COMEDY CLUB

3min
page 30

THE CULTURE VULTURE

1min
page 29

DOVETAIL JOINTS VIRTUAL GALLERY

3min
page 28

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

1min
page 27

ENDEM AND ROB IRISH

5min
pages 16-17

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

3min
page 15

PREVIEWS

19min
pages 4-11

TRACKS

2min
page 55

BENJAMIN FITZGERALD

2min
page 20

NE DONS

2min
page 18

BENJAMIN AMOS

3min
page 23

NEW JAZZ & IMPROVISED MUSIC RECORDINGS

5min
pages 12-13

GOBSCURE

3min
pages 21-22

BALTIC OPEN SUBMISSION

3min
page 19

FESTIVE SHOWS

4min
pages 24-25

LIVING IN SHADOWS

2min
page 14
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