Holdy Hold and the Fast-shees
In recent years we have become acutely aware of the importance of recycling. Those items which were cast casually asunder on scrap heaps across the world now have great value, and not just monetary: reusing them could help save our planet.
We re-use carrier bags at the supermarket; we recycle cans, bottle and glass; we ensure all our old papers and magazines and bills head towards the recycle bin in the hope (if we believe those adverts) they will be remade into cars, space rockets or robots, or even better - a mixture of all three. With our throw away and fickle society consuming and consuming, we recycle in the hope that a better fate awaits all those discarded items and trust in the fact that something better will come from them.
However, there are some things that shouldn’t be recycled and re-generated. It could be argued that some musical styles should remain on the proverbial scrapheap. Who wants to listen to the New Romantics again, eh?
So what does this mean for Portsmouth’s Hold Fast? With singer Roberta Collins’ voice sounding not too dissimilar to gothic princess Siouxsie Sioux, it could be argued that Hold Fast may be the Banshees of the teenies.
With that same tightly wound urgency peppered with distortion and pulsating basslines as early SS&TB; you could think that this was somewhat of a tribute act. A recycled sound, if you will.
Although this alarming likeness detracts somewhat from what is essentially an accomplished demo, it is not too dislikeable. The post punk groove which propels things along works well and just has enough pop to keep everything kicking.
Not the most original thing you’ll hear this year, but it comes at you with some fair clout. It isn’t a space rocket or Aston Martin in regards to ‘recycled’ sounds but it is a fair effort.