Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Archives for July 22, 2004

Weeble – Things Do Explode

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Ok, Weeble are a 5 piece band producing an energetic fusion of punk, ska, and rock, a self proclaimed Tigger-punk block-rockin hop-skotchin band. They formed way back in 1996 so have had a lot of experience, but this CD is from 2002 so isn’t exactly the bands newest material – but still, it gives you an idea of the sort of thing that they do. Weeble play fun music and they play it extremely well. They provide us with catchy music that you can have a good skank to, yet is good, intelligent music that would please even the most cynical of rock fans.

I think that hearing the band on CD is probably only half the experience – you really have to see the band live in order for the songs to truly come alive. It is certainly good, energetic music that you can have a good dance to – but I feel that the band, like Solabeat Alliance can never quite replicate on CD what they do at their live shows. There is some good horn playing on display here, as well as some slick drum beats, guitar riffs that slice through you, and bass lines that seem to come alive as they leave the speakers. The vocals here are pretty cool with the lead singer adding a Rock twinge to the band, with the choruses often sounding astounding. There is a real live edge to the vocals – the harmonies that are being created seem to vibrate through your body just as they would at a gig.

The band seem to be doing something that is just a bit different to the norm, and that is why I feel that you really need to see the band live to get a true idea of what they are like. Often when boundaries are being broken by bands, it is in their live performances and just in their general stage presence that the bands seem to come in to their own. Weeble are not setting out to change the state of the world with their music – their plan is just to make fun music that you can dance to and just generally have a good time listening to. On the live circuit I can really see Weeble being a band to watch out for – they seem to have tons of energy, are filled with confidence, and make music that they have a good mind to be proud of.

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The Outer Limits Demo

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The Outer Limits are a five piece Ska band from North London. With this 4 track demo the band really put a smile on your face with their female lead vocals which are strong and full of energy. The vocals are delivered with a punch and the backing vocals really add to the impact of them. I did not really know what I was getting before I started listening to this band – I had never really heard of the band before and didn’t know what they were really all about. From listening to the CD I found out that The Outer Limits are a group of strong-minded individuals with strong political views.

I was very impressed with this demo and it far exceeded any expectations I might have had of the band beforehand. There was not much of a write up that came with this CD, which in a way is good because it is left up to you to draw your own conclusions and also listen more closely to the music at hand. I love all of the tracks and feel that on all of them there is definitely strong drumming, booming bass lines, grinding guitar riffs, and some pretty cool horn attachments as well. This, going alongside the extremely strong vocals on display here makes way for a very good Ska CD indeed. I think that the fact that the band are so strongly political really adds to the appeal of the band because not only are the vocals spot on, but the lyrics are obviously coming from the heart of the band and they are singing about something they truly believe in rather than just stringing a few rhyming sentences together.

All 4 of these tracks are quite lengthy tracks and this is not a bad thing as the band really do stand the test of time and they are not a band that you get tired of after a couple of minutes. The fact the lyrics are so interesting and the music is so good make it enthralling to listen to and there is just so much to take in from the music that if the tracks were shorter then they probably would not have the same effect. I really love the fourth and final track on this CD – it is a great finish to the CD. I really feel that this track has a lot of power and punch to it. The band leave you on a high, hoping for more – which is always a good thing to do as it means that right at the end of the CD the attention of the listener will truly be captured and they will start to eagerly await the release of new material from the band.

This demo was recorded back in January, which is of course 6 months ago now – in which time the band have probably improved. A good thing has probably become great as the band have matured and gained in experience. I just cant wait to hear what’s next from this band – they are certainly one to watch out for, and I can definitely see them getting signed before long with this much talent. It really looks like before long, The Outer Limits will be sitting alongside No Comply at the forefront of the scene.

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