disappointing release from underground 'supergroups'
Both of these bands have a fine grass-roots pedigree, featuring members who have spent a lot of time involved in the underground music scene in one way or another. Mike Wright, the vocalist/guitarist in Airstrip One, used to run Peterborough-based label Santos Records, and Rays Of Helios bassist Mark Lonsdale has his roots playing in A History Of… Rays also have ex And None Of Them Knew They Were Robots front man Kevin McGonnell in their ranks, although strangely he is this time to be found behind the drum kit. This seems like a monumental waste of talent to me (although on this evidence he is no mean drummer…) – like a football team signing Thierry Henry only to then play him in goal.
There is a close bond between the two bands, having played several dates together in their hometown of Leeds over the last year, and it was this friendship that, albeit via a fairly indirect route, resulted in this split EP being recorded. It all started back in April, when Airstrip headed off to the studio to record some new material. They initially called in Rays vocalist Paul Marshall to oversee production duties, but then decided to take the partnership one step further by including a Rays song on the 7”. In step Art For Blind records, and hey presto! – we have the split EP that is currently bursting out of my speakers. But do they all live happily ever after?
Well partly. I’m afraid that Rays contributory track ‘Forms From Forms’, is merely average. It sounds a bit like ‘Direct Approach…’ era Bright Calm Blue, with awkward yet funky guitar lines, and vocals that sound like an image-conscious Guy Picciotto. It’s a reasonably good, if unremarkable effort, only picking up in the more ambitious mid-track breakdown.
Airstrip One, on the other hand, fare much better. ‘High Hopes’ lives up to its title-induced expectations, delivering the goods with upbeat post-hardcore that has definite traces of Texas Is The Reason and Garden Variety running through it’s mercurial riffs. The melodies strike a good balance, being just intricate enough to hold interest, but straight forward enough to be irresistibly catchy. My one complaint is that the track ends a bit abruptly – a needless attempt to be overly erratic that just ends up sounding like they simply ran out of vinyl space. If they learn to resist the urge to overcomplicate things, then they could produce something rather special.