Thursday 14 August 2014

Mat Motte & the People That Hate Him - 'Summer Song' & Bang Bang Romeo - 'Revolver'

Mat Motte & the People that Hate Him – Summer Song


We’re a little late on this, but as the rain bounces high off the tarmac we’ll to put it down to synchronicity. 

In ‘Summer Song’ Mat Motte may have well have struck gold, for no matter how long it takes for radio to fully get behind this sardonic ode to an English summer, it shall remain relevant. Catastrophic global warming aside; wheel it out for next year’s Glastonbury, Wimbledon or any time you wait in vain to fire-up the barbecue.

Confident rather than complacent, ‘Summer Song’ bears all the marks of an apprenticeship well served. It’s an assured slice of dirty pop with Motte’s askew (fat-trimmed) lyrics scoffing from the get-go. Motte’s return from the marshes brings a certain sense of defiance that’s most welcome and should the live shows make it north of the Watford Gap , don’t forget the invite.




Bang Bang Romeo – Revolver


Bang Bang Romeo’s ‘Revolver’ arrives hot on the heels of the well-received ‘We Were Born’ EP, that had Huw Stephens reaching for the play button, making lead track ‘Carnival’ his pick of the week. The bands roots lay somewhere between late 60’s psychedelia (think Jefferson Airplane ‘Crown of Creation’) and cinematic rock. Indeed, as Anastasia Walker belts “Your heart is holding my revolver” I can’t help but visualise flaming silhouettes of naked beauties and 007 drawing his trusty Walther PPK.

The vibrato guitar is nice, the riffs strong, and the rhythm section tight as the proverbial tick. However its Walker’s vocal that provides the real gloss here. When the power’s off her voice has low-end warmth I’d like to hear a lot more of, whilst at full tilt a belt to rival Adel, and a real sense for the dramatic.

If I have a criticism, it’s that the 4 bar chorus never doubles up, meaning I barely have time to reach for my lighter, let alone get my arms in the air.


We managed to miss them on their last visit to Manchester which is something we’ll have to remedy on their return in September.

Released 1st September

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