I was lucky enough to meet Jamie Lawson in September 2010. ‘When Wasn’t Expecting That’ came to the public consciousness in January 2011, I asked Jamie if he would like to have a chat for the first Nessycast.
Since Jamie uploaded a video to Youtube, ‘Wasn’t Expecting That’ has received over 145,000 views.
The single entered the Irish Charts on February 4th 2011 at number 3 over all, Number 1 on iTunes. This week Jamie has a chance to go one better.
Jamie’s Website: JamieLawsonMusic.co.uk
The first thing that hits you about ‘Calling All Astronauts‘ is how different they are to a lot of today’s music scene. Gothic electro punk with politically charged lyrics.
‘Living In the Shadow of The Red Flag’ is a sonic explosion of samples and cleverly programmed beats and synths fused together with distorted guitar lines. Vocally the track veers from all out punk on the verse to a gothic refrain reminiscent in production, to this writer, of Sisters of Mercy’s ‘This Corrosion’. Delightful to hear.
‘Someone Like You’ has a cleaner sound. A time change in the track see the band keeping to the punk ethos while still maintaining the Goth style vocals. CAA have an interesting sound, combining elements from different genres to create their own unique brand.
What interests me is that these tracks are unmastered as yet and merely a hint of what is to come. The band features JJ Browning (previously of pop punkers Caffeine) and David B of rap-metallers US:UK, so they have the experience and the know how. A little time and planning and things could get loud.. I’m looking forward to hearing more material.
Google have yet again out done themselves with their Doodles. Today’s is a tribute to Jules Verne and what is really clever? There’s a little controller to the right you can move the sea image around.. love it.
If Liam Gallagher’s band Beady Eye ask you to open for them you must be doing something right. Cheap Freaks are a garage punk band based in Dublin and in their short existence have opened for Buzzcocks and Black Angels.
Like all good garage punk, it’s dirty, brash and best played loud. The EP opens with ‘Can’t Fool Me’, upbeat, distorted guitar and vocals dropped against a background of perfect drums and subtle bass. There’s a fantastic rawness to the EP with late 60’s throw backs.
The urgency in the music is breathtaking and continues with ‘It’s a Crying Shame’. ‘Sleep With You’ is a catchy, dare I say, melodic track, with a killer guitar line and keys I wasn’t expecting. The EP ends with ‘I’m Coming Home’, a driving rock song with a hat tip to Them.
Cheap Freaks are like a bringing a bad boy home to meet your Mum. Loud, brash, in your face, she won’t like them, you’ll fall head over heels.
