Slam Cartel - Handful Of Dreams
Slam Cartel were one of those bands I thought I hadn't heard of, but when opening track 'Wishing Eye' began to play, I realised I had heard it, and Slam Cartel have been getting some rotation on Planet Rock. "Handful Of Dreams" is the debut album from the London based six-piece, with that in mind, it's pretty impressive that they've played Sonisphere and count Russell Brand as a fan.
The title track 'Handful Of Dreams' has a mighty drum line and some clever guitar work, much like the opening track. The boys' third track is a brave choice - a cover of the Talking Heads classic 'Once In A Lifetime'. Thankfully, for them and for us, they do the song justice, it's a clever cover, given a modern twist and a distinctive sound, Giles Van Lane's vocal performance on this track is excellent. The slower tracks on the album 'Walk A Mile' and 'Maybe Sometimes' are beautifully composed and layered, they show off the musical talent of the band, and showcase Lane's impressive vocals.
The record as a whole is a real mixed bag; 'Breathe' is reminiscent of a Bon Jovi-esque power ballad, a thoughtful love song which is followed up by the hard-hitting 'Shine'. The diversity on this album is great and somehow it mixes together so well.
Slam Cartel's debut album is home to some killer riffs, epic basslines, smart drumming and smooth vocals. They're in control of their sound, not afraid to experiment and try something different and their versatility is very impressive, I can't pick one low point on this album; whatever sound they turn their hands to it is well performed and recorded.
'Handful Of Dreams' is one of the most impressive debut albums I have heard in a while, and Slam Cartel is definitely a band to watch.