Out Of The Shadows
Until recently it’s simply been a case of recognition by association for three piece The Rascals. Cruelly and flippantly judged by many as merely riding the coattails of their friends who just happen to make up that little unknown band Artic Monkeys, the Wirral trio have somewhat of an up hill struggle in order to carve out a name for themselves, a task their latest EP, ‘Out Of Dreams’ boldly sets out to achieve to reassuring if not ground breaking effect.
With a bass that pulsates, threateningly pounding with a hint of seductive sleaze, The Rascals immediately captivate as ‘Out Of Dreams’ unmasks a horror like soundtrack revolving around a goth surf surge interjecting singer Miles Kane’s menacingly intriguing voice as the track feeds your anticipation, climaxing in a psychedelic frenzy of sharp riffs and booming drums. Capturing the darkly morbid electro panache of The Horrors, The Rascals have cleverly sprinkled in the infectious rock of Artic Monkeys, tying the mix together with the ‘ordinary man’ camaraderie of The Coral and whilst it may not be an all together new concept, throughout the EP there are heavy indications that there is a lot more to offer from the Wirral lads. ‘Ratcatcher’ is a frenetic whirl of a track that zooms past in a mind meddling flurry whilst closer ‘Is It Too Late?’ cumulates in a drum finale to bombastic effect suggesting that whilst the band may still be lurking in the shadows of their friends, it won’t be long before they strike out triumphantly into the sunlight.