Promising debut from punk upstarts
God save the Queen, cream tea, losing the cricket - all things that you would associate with Britain. But punk? That's something made by kids in America with backwards trucker caps and chains on their jeans isn't it?
Yes, gone are the days when punk was as British as tweed, when bands like the Sex Pistols terrorised Top Of The Pops, spraying rows of horrified teens with spit and other bodily fluids with anarchic gusto. Whilst punk lost its mainstream popularity shortly afterwards, it's never really gone away, having found a loving home in the UK underground. It's a rare occurrence when a punk band manages to break free from the confines of the UK toilet circuit, with most bands fading into obscurity without really having left much of a mark. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that punk isn't really suited to the world of sponsorship and 'production values', that the music and its ethos sit much more comfortably amidst a throng of sweating bodies and the acrid smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke. Kneehigh are one of those rare bands that might just have what it takes to claw their way out of the toilet and into the fire.
Despite having only been together for three years, they have already created quite a stir in the East Anglian punk scene, playing with the likes of The Vandals, Reel Big Fish and Midtown, building up a sizeable fan base along the way. However, this fan base has caused them a few fairly major problems, as Kneehigh are now banned from playing several of the local venues due to the 'over-enthusiastic' nature of their fans! This may have proved to be the end of the road for a less determined band, but Kneehigh showed considerable resolve for a band with an average age of 18 by playing at a house eviction, under the watchful eyes of the police and (more importantly) the press. They are planning to once again display this admirable 'middle-finger' attitude by playing a squat gig at an abandoned factory complex - how punk!
'Open Arms' is a raw, youthful album, which perfectly captures the energy and intensity of the UK underground punk scene. They take the infectious melodies of Brand New and fuse them with the energy of Taking Back Sunday, rounding the neat package off with vocals that sound like a British Chris Carrabba albeit with enough rough edges to retain that lo-fi punk sound. They get off to a great start with title track 'Open Arms', a surprisingly intelligent melee of dischordant guitars that remind me of the buzz I felt the first time I listened to thisGIRL. 'Lessons', which featured on the 'Hardcore Hobbies' skate/bmx compilation, is a stonking upbeat number that will have you nodding your head/tapping your foot/dancing like a child on a sugar-rush (delete as appropriate) in no time. The quality of the album then starts to deteriorate slightly, only to be momentarily rescued by 'So Long', which could easily be 'Saves The Day' and is positively bursting with single potential. The track finishes with a sample of a girl saying "I think that's, erm, very clever" - well since when do girls know anything? [Oooooh! - Lewis] It's not that big, and it's certainly not clever, but it is catchy as hell and could do well in today's musical climate to which it is so perfectly suited.
I don't think this will be the album that will propel Kneehigh onwards and upwards to better things, as they struggle to maintain a consistently high level throughout the entire CD. Nevertheless, as a debut release, it is encouraging, and as a young band Kneehigh have plenty of time to improve and mature. When they do, they have the capability to go all the way - or at least far enough to get out of Norwich.
Eau de toilette circuit. Spray liberally and enjoy.