Radio friendly but unexciting
The Riot Tapes was formed in 2009 by ex-pat American Chris O'Brien and Dubliner Elaine Doyle, joining forces with London producer Tim Clarke, they recorded their debut and recently released first single 'Photograph'; a song about trying to find love as the world around you crumbles.
Doyle's voice is smooth, sensual and melodic, harking back to the sound of some of the top female vocalists of the 80s rock scene. Backed by solid pop rock beats and throbbing guitars, the focus of the song is positioned firmly on her. The music is layered with a depth of competing sounds that at times becomes too much and distracts from the vocals, almost painfully at some points in the chorus.
While there are many good elements to The Riot Tapes' sound, ultimately 'Photograph' falls flat. It's a fairly generic song and not one that entices the listener to become excited about hearing more.