DEMOS

Image: Bryan

WORDS: CHRIS MALTBY

DEMO OF THE MONTH

Bryan – Tin Head

This. Is. Excellent. Whilst Tin Head may be a track about living with trauma, the listening experience is anything but traumatic. Comforting, in fact. Drawn in amongst waves of intertwining guitars gliding atop charming drum machine percussion and subtle synth tones, Middlesbrough’s Bryan (the duo) have created a soundscape so honest you’ll feel part of it. The bassline is brooding and provides perfect grounding for the vocals; the delivery is raw and unrefined yet frighteningly beautiful, there’s no hiding here despite the wealth of effects and production. This is a collaboration in its infancy and I cannot wait to hear what else comes from it. Bedroom pop has found a foothold in this strange landscape we find ourselves in and Bryan should firmly be in your thoughts. www.soundcloud.com/bryantheduo

Valley 59 – Only Just Begun

Pop punk laid bare in all its innocence, Only Just Begun is a student night fishbowl of palm muted guitars, adolescent vocals and catchy melodic hooks. It’s pop that you couldn’t feed to your parents and punk that punks would hate, is there a better space to occupy as a pop punk band? They’ve nailed it! Described as Britain’s answer to Blink-182 (was this a question that ever needed to be asked?) Valley-59 are sure to give you a hit of carcinogenically sweet late 90’s/early 00’s nostalgia packaged with wonderfully refined production. Well I guess this is growing up. www.facebook.com/valley59official

Andy Francis Johnson – Soldier With No Orders

An ambitious undertaking for solo artist Andy Francis Johnson, Soldiers With No Orders is the first single from his debut classic rock and blues EP Back To Square One (release date pending). The track is torn from the pages of the headbanger’s bible (1980’s edition) with all the riffs to back it up until you get to the chorus, but thankfully the lead guitar comes charging back. Redemption. All the nuts and bolts are there and I’d love to hear what this track would sound like with a full band, it’s begging to be jammed and enjoyed by an ensemble. I don’t know what the future holds for this project but I hope it gets the enjoyment it deserves. Now pass me the brown ale, I want to play along. www.facebook.com/andyfrancisjohnson

The White Line – Accept Not Expect

A fun soundscape closing out Sunderland indie rockers The White Line’s debut album, Accept Not Expect is a track that will surely get the crowd dancing when played live and also leave you lost in your own sofa when enjoyed alone. A psychedelic journey in a surprise package, it’s groove from the get go as enticing percussion lays the foundation for ethereal bursts of guitar that guide you towards its expansive centre. A driving bassline paves the way for an abundance of dancehall sounds broken up by the hook. It’s slick, texture-rich and tactfully anthemic with all the right components to get you moving regardless of where you are. www.facebook.com/thewhitelinene

Graeme Richardson – Ticket To Hide

Consett-based singer songwriter Graeme Richardson brings us Ticket To Hide, “a short tongue-in-cheek song about jumping on a plane and escaping to a warm and sunny island away from the awfulness that is the current world we live in.” A lashing of summer sun packaged into 100 seconds, this is Americana-inspired folk that you can’t help but daydream along to. Listen more than twice and you’ll end up singing along; upbeat, playful and borderline hymnal, Graeme wants to escape and for those 100 seconds, you’re dreaming of the sunshine with him. www.facebook.com/ricokreep