The Best Independent Music Reviews

10 - Absolutely unmissable, must be heard by everyone
9 - Great music, easily accessible to most people
8 - Music that should be heard but may stand out to some more than others
7 - Really good sound but nothing new
6 - OK, perhaps needs a bit of effort to listen to
5 - Decidedly Average, not bad but lacking in some areas
4 - Difficult to listen to but persistence may pay off
3 - Poor, perhaps mixing and recording issues or just bad music
2 - Don't bother listening unless you have a lot of time on your hands
1 - Poor, not worth bothering with at all

Obviously there is some of the reviewer's opinion in all the reviews but we do try to be objective. If necessary we will use a decimal score to more accurately score the music, artist or band. We rate all music, artists and bands on an equal basis whether they are a huge signed band or an small unsigned artist.

If you have anything you want reviewing just let us know.

A review of Yeosu Dangerous EP by Electric Fan Death - Buy it here or visit their Myspace or website.

Well after purchasing the EP on iTunes I was eager to hear the finished product. Electric Fan Death (EFD) are a band I have been following and are on the AMStunes indie label. A great no-profit label with indie values similar to mine and home to John S Wilson and Tear Down The Lies!. EFD are totally different from these electro/soundscape based artists and I was interested to see if AMStunes could really release exciting, original music in multiple genres.

The EP opens with what sounds like traffic noise building up and up and up and then BANG you're sucked into the sound of beautiful layered guitars and soothing vocals. The first track "Books On Building" may not be the strongest track on the EP but it certainly grabs your attention. Next "Landmine" kicks in with a simple guitar riff, then bass, then drums and vocals. Many tracks on the 7 track EP have this build up quality to them, something you don't really notice until you come to analyse the recording, it definitely works and helps gel the tracks together. The chorus of Landmine is more punky/grungy with hints of Sonic Youth and even Nirvana at times. That being said the EP is definitely indie and alternative. All the tracks work well together, the EP has a relaxed and melancholy feel to it and influences from Idlewild to Yo La Tengo can be heard.

The vocals really stand out at times, when mixed with the multiple layered guitars you find yourself in an almost hypnotic state forgetting whatever you are doing. Simply bathing in the warm aural waters of syncopathic strings, synths, beats and voice. The whole album has a hidden complexity, when listened to a few times the seemingly simple guitar can be defined as four seemingly simply guitars playing different melody's panned and mixed to near perfection. Wayguk is one of the few quick starting tracks with only the voice left out in the intro. A song about missing your home, in this case the Scottish Highlands, the track is instantly likable with a particularly catchy chorus even though I'm not sure what Wayguk is or means.

All the tracks are of a high caliber with Landmine, Wayguk and Shooting Shadows being the stand out tracks for me. Wayguk is so easily likable and just flows into your ears. The lyrics of the release are cleverly written and at a glance can appear to be gibberish. Metaphors and Similes a plenty, from missing your home, to the problems of viral advertising to the problem of the stuck cycle music industry. The subject matter is strong and it's good to see a band confidently avoid cliched love based lyrics.

EFD are a duo of music makers from the UK living in South Korea. For a couple of lads so far from home they have certainly written a relevant selection of tracks. This is for all you alternative indie fans out their who like something a bit different, a bit mellow, a bit on the right side of great.

Yeosu Dangerous EP - by Electric Fan Death 8.5/10

Dave Muzo

An angst fueled emotional sprint of instrumental guitars blend almost seamlessly. Great for the background of an anime fight scene. A little 65daysofstatic at times but that's never a bad thing. English Courage tracks can sometimes feel a little disjointed as sections can change on the fly in a progressive style. This is perhaps the artists intention, keeping you on your feet and allowing extra length without boredom. Overall a good original listen with potential to become great.

Visit English Courage's Myspace for more info and a listen.

Dave Muzo

Signed to FatCat Records and based in Scotland We Were Promised Jetpacks provide a high energy, edgy alternative to the main-stream indie offerings of the moment. Vocals that penetrate your senses, guitars that make you want to hear more, their track Quiet Little Voices is an underground classic without a doubt.

Visit We Were Promised Jetpacks Myspace for more info and to hear what I'm talking about.

Dave Muzo.

This is a review the music 'The Numbers' have uploaded to Myspace.

The Numbers are a 4 piece alternative indie band from Manchester and their sound is very 'manc'. Their influences shine through making them instantly comparable to big names like Ian Brown/Stone Roses, Charlatans, Doves and Oasis. There sound is almost instantly familiar making the music so easy to listen to. As soon as the first track 'The Dig' kicks in soaring harmonised vocals drift in with some intricate rhythm which is soon joined by a driving bass line. You quickly find yourself singing along; "I've seen it all before, you've seen it all....".

All the tracks on their Myspace are beautifully crafted and fit well together, and would easily be part of an album or EP. The main problem is the sound is so familiar at times you actually think you are listening to the Stone Roses, especially in the track 'Death Of me' where the vocals are so Ian Brown-esque it's hard to understand why he gets no mention in their influences section.

So to finish off, The Numbers are a truly talented group of musicians creating a highly familiar and captivating Manchester sound. If you want to reminisce over the days of older Manchester bands and are tiring of the older songs these boys are really worth your time. If you are looking for something new or unique you won't find it here.

The Numbers Myspace 7.2/10

Dave Muzo

Check out 'Tear Down The Lies!' Myspace.

'Tear Down The Lies!' describes his music as being "influenced by travels, sounds, sights, feelings etc..." and that is the exact feeling you get while listing. He creates rhythmical sounscapes from instruments, samples and synths that suck you in. As you sit on a bus listening you fall into a dream-like state where the music and images from outside the window merge, it's an unusual state of thoughtfulness that most music does not touch.

That's not to say the music is easily accessible for everyone, its really not. People into electronica and other soundscape artists will get it but many will need a little persistence to fully understand what is flowing through their ears and some will instantly write it off. To me that's part of the appeal, the unapologetic, unconventional nature of the music is not meant to be adored by everyone.

The songs are diverse even within themselves yet they all play well with one another. The tambourine like intro of 'Exchanges' is quickly joined by a pushy electronica beat. Then in kicks the orchestra of sound which for some reason reminds me of older computer games. As the song progresses the mood changes into a kind of uplifting yet depressed state. Next on the playlist is 'Baby You're a Lunatic' which has a more synthetic feel almost reminiscent of Boards of Canada.

All in all the music is excellent and is certainly worth a listen, I will give it an 8 but that is only because to many people this music will seem quite obscure. If you are this way inclined or want to find something new 'Tear Down The Lies!' is an excellent artist

Tear Down The Lies Myspace 8/10

Dave Muzo

This is a review is of John S Wilson's debut Album which you can listen to at AMStunes Radio or at Last.fm selected tracks also up on , John S Wilson's Myspace.

Alternative/Electro/Electronica

John S Wilson is an electronica artist whose debut album 'Liquid Acrobat' has been released online by his small indie label AMStunes. Described as 'alternative elctronica from an alternative mind', the statement is so true. Gone are the crazy sounds that are often associated with this genre, gone are the irrelevant break-ups which make certain elctronica artists disjointed and inaccessible to many people. This album is a smooth ride and slots neatly into the genre doing something that it seems elctronica artists are afraid to do, make it sound simple even though it so obviously isn't.

The first track 'Heights' kicks in with a distorted drifty lead line and then what sounds like a sampled drum kit bangs in with a driving beat and the song just builds. Its all so well crafted and thought out, some songs progressive, some songs ambient the whole album flows perfectly making it easy to just put the album on your Ipod go out and completely forget what you went out for. In fact you won't care you'll just walk and listen from start to finish, the music is that good.

Influences can definitely be heard; the old master 'Aphex', 'Boards of Canada', 'Four Tet' blah blah blah and at time other genres come into the mix, trance, dub and even garage all mingle. Although the influences can be noticed, this album is so obviously it's own entity. It fits nicely in your playlist amongst all the other electronica artists and that is truly amazing for a debut album of an artist not of high recognition in the industry. This album is a simple epic emotional collection of tracks that should not be missed; it shows that simplicity can be complexity.

'Liquid Acrobat' is a fitting title for John S Wilson's creation, whether it's because the whole album flows flawlessly from start to end or perhaps its a reference to the drug and dance culture this album so obviously stems from. I personally think this album deserves the 9 I have given it but to anyone who prefers the more traditional sound-scape, more sample based electronica take the score down by 1 or possibly 2. Anyone out their who is looking to extend their electronica collection and wants something very different get over to AMStunes now and check this out, a truly masterful piece of music.

Liquid Acrobat - by John S Wilson: - 9/10

Dave Muzo

This is a review the music Trickswitch have uploaded to Myspace.

Self described as rock/indie/grunge the band definitely have a harder side to them but grunge may be taking it a little far; more like alternative indie rock. Songs like My 2 Feet interchange between Dylan-esque picking and more upbeat distorted sections. It has to be said that they are not afraid to play with the recording process from panning vocals and reverse bass drums in 'Weren't You the One' to excellent guitar layering their sound is good. At a live show these tracks would sound big and definitely contain the right mix of emotion and power to get the crowd going.

Their lyrics are the usual fare, love, people and at one point war. Although they may be nothing original they fit well with the music and it's easy to find yourself singing along with them. It has to be said their sound is less edgy and perhaps at times heavier than the current stream of indie bands but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. They are in the process of finding a new singer according to their Myspace so their sound could completely change but if you are into indie and are bored of the current crop of edgy artists give them a listen.

Trickswitch Myspace:- 7/10

Dave Muzo