"Demo No 1" by Subsistence

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Subsistence is an Aberdeen-based band with their roots firmly planted in the rock genre. A quick look at their website revealed previous comparisons to bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, the Pixies, etc. Like them, I tend to agree that it's best to listen for yourself. One thing is for sure if this CD is anything to go by, this is no bedroom-based muck-about. These guys are talented musicians.

Obtuse lyrics galore in 'Watching Me Now' but the tale seems to be one of uncomfortably shuffling in the spotlight, whether this is the spotlight of a loved one's gaze, or one of those damn spinning lights at a certain venue which tend to blind you just as you're about to belt out the guitar solo of your life, is unclear - and unimportant damn it. I really enjoyed picking through the layers of the instrumentation, it sounds like quite a bit of work went into working out the progressions rather than just having all the instruments play the same riff at the same time. Their drummer also impressed in this song, the pattern sounds complicated but remains tight throughout the recording. There's nothing that should stop this song getting major airplay, although if I were mixing this I'd lose the first two bars of the song with the flanged guitar as it adds nothing to the song.

It's sad then to hear how different the next song sounds. There doesn't seem to have been as much time spent on 'New Form of Lowlife' as the previous song. A Wipers influence is obvious through the verse and although the song does improve as it progresses, the damage has been done. To be honest, I think the song would sound a lot better if more work was done on the vocals and lyrics. The singer doesn't seem to at all comfortable with some of the lines and little wonder as 'and I didn’t mean for you to say' in the first verse doesn't fit the singing pattern. As I mentioned above it does improve as the song progresses, and manages a stadium-rock style lead solo towards the end which had me grinning from ear to ear. One to definitely spend some time improving. Again, the flanged guitar may be good to synch the rest of the band when you're playing live, but on a recording it's really unnecessary.

Something really interesting is going on in 'Pumpkin Heads on Pogo Sticks' - intricate lead guitar work and ... sections... that's a bit prog-rock isn't it? (grins) No no, just kidding. This is a really good song, the lyrics while again being quite obscure fit a little bit more cleanly than on '...lowlife', the vocals strain slightly in places but nothing too much to complain about. It's a perfect outro track thanks to its loud & fast rock-out part. I imagine it goes down a treat live.

All in all, I'm really impressed with this demo CD. The high point is definitely the lead track, as it should be, but I think it's a real pity a couple more hours wasn't spent on 'New Form Of Lowlife' to bring it up to the standard of the other two tracks. I recommend you spend some time getting to know this band.

Ian Simpson, reviewer and musician,

FRANCIS MONKMAN & THE VITUOUS-REALITI BAND - "21st Century Blues"

Francis pays tribute to "The band, who, I'm sure you'll agree, jammed up such a storm" in his sleeve notes to '21st Century Blues' and he's right but who are the band?
This is one of the frustrating and quirky things about this long (Near 80 minute) album. The other is the muddy vocals buried so deep in the mix as to be incomprehensible most of the time.
This is a shame because it undermines an otherwise brilliant album. A blues musician friend of mine once said that 3 or 4 minutes is the ideal length for a number because it's not how long it is but what you put into it that's important. I don't agree with that of course although there are occasions on this CD where a little pruning might have increased the listening pleasure!
Not on the opener the 10 minute 'Poisonality' though! This to my mind disproves my friend's point as the band do what King Crimson did on 'Prozac Blues' on 'The Construkction of Light', take the blues to a different level, albeit in half the time! The instrumental work and splenetic atmosphere work perfectly. 'Train Dun Gone Crazy' (Great title!) starts with a reference to Skip James 'I'm So Glad' immortalised by Cream. The first departure from progressive blues is on track 4 nearly 20 minutes into the album. This is psychedelia meets Bowie, the cleverest track in an album full of ingenuity perhaps with its 'Don't judge a book by its cover' girl with a history/ attitude theme.
The only other criticism I could possibly make of this splendid album is that the guitar solo doesn't quite get off the ground on '21-Bar Blues' (another great title)!
As we progress deeper into the album some jangly Byrds like guitars start to appear, synth lines and lo-fi keyboard sounds come into play and the vocals descend to a growl.
On the satirical 'Rinky Dink Public School' the 'Batman' theme even gets a quote- great stuff!
As you would expect the lyrics I can hear range from 'I woke up this morning' to the legendary train driver Casey Jones, immortalised by Mississippi John Hurt among others.
The low down Delta blues can get a bit messy, a veritable 'gut bucket' in fact but, despite its flaws, I love it!
Incidentally, my friend's band once supported Canned Heat- don't I remember them doing 20 minute long blues numbers?
A final thought. Surely the best progressive blues album ever is Led Zeppelin's first. Other contenders on a post card please!
(Voiceprint VP244CD)
(Phil JACKSON), musician and reviewer

Devilcake - Shout At The Devilcake

Ten Long Years after their debut cassette, "Number Of The Feast" Devilcake finally get round to releasing their debut CD, "Shout at the Devilcake", via MP3.com.

Now fair enough, they took most of the nineties off, but even so. Devilcake used to be a grindcore band called Evil Bread, and the early influences now shine through. They calim to be influenced by Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Pantera, Crash Test Dummies and Mariah Carey, but I don't really hear too much Ozzy in the mix. In fact, they're closer in spirit to the Misfits and Impaler than any of the above.

Just in case you hadn't noticed from the album title, Devilcake utilise that scariest of tools, humour, in their lyrics. Which means that some of the songs are one listen only, but when they're funny, they're funny. "Chicken Nuggets Of Sin" and "Omelette OF Death" were particularly fine which is why you can find the latter in the MP3 zone http://stations.mp3s.com/stations/22/the_zeitgeist_mp3_zone.html.

Musicallt it's fairly generic but you can tell that they're enjoying themselves and if a strange hybrid of Godflesh and XTC done in Pantera stylee takes your fancy, then so mote it be.

Props, therefore, to - Mike Gourley vocals, Matt Stewart, bass, Ray Lilley, keyboards, Mike Chuck Bill, guitar and Ian C Stewart, drums and unnecessary lead guitar.

Listen at http://stations.mp3s.com/stations/22/the_zeitgeist_mp3_zone.html
Contact - http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_email/196/devilcake.html