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Murderous Traffic - Presents Zavvi Hometown Vaults Mk II
Only the second release from this fresh label out of Castleford, West Yorkshire is a collection of varying talents from local bands and artists that have performed at the original club night from which the label was spawned. Murderous Traffic has brought us some real pedigree to their shindigs since setting up camp at The Loft, Xscape. Quality and respected bands such as Glasvegas, Jackobinara and To My Boy to name only a few, have joined the many local bands that play here on a regular basis.
One of those very bands are The New Delamores (pictured), who for me are one of the best around these parts, without a doubt. A Blues-Rock explosion of energy with a Mersey beat thread that is unavoidable. These guys were chosen as the labels’ debut release back in October and following on from its encouraging success they open proceedings here.
‘Poison Arthur’ is slightly different from what we’ve come to expect of them. Gentle vocals from Lee ease us in and by the delicate guitar rhythms and up tempo drum patterns, it’s obvious who we’re listening to! Always building to the chorus’ in their own brilliant way, this is no exception and it has a real country tinge to it. A live favourite that starts the album off strongly at its highest point, it doesn’t get any better than this although some get closer than others!
Daniel J. Cunningham is next up and comes on like Iggy Pop fronting Placebo. His Americana drawl telling us that they “only care what people say” and it carries genuine feeling with it.
‘The Car & The Radio’ sees Zapped By A Million Volts dreaming they can dance with intermittent guitar onslaught and staunch, flat beats. Hailing from Middlesboro, they’re not officially local but are now adopted as one of their own and always play with the same regional zeal! We are now well and truly under way!
The saxophone is a permanent fixture in The Labels’ music now and doesn’t always do it justice. Standing out here though, in a jumbled mix up that comes across as confused. A cacophony of sounds that go nowhere but with some nice parts that show they have something between them. Topped by Cristian’s pained Horbury screams it’s not one of their best!
What comes next should never work but is strangely captivating, bad in such a way that’s somehow good! The organ melody is key and the backbone throughout IMP’s ‘Nancy Hanks’. Grinding and skuzzy guitars create a tension that breaks free of the Lou Reed style, off-key spoken delivery.
Thunderbird2vsspitchemist have an obviously ridiculous name and I’m instantly dubious when their offering begins with drug referenced samples from Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas. Proving me wrong slightly, quick rhymes and flowing poetry follow over plodding beats and gentle effects creating a laid back atmosphere. More samples; this time from Easy Rider wash over us and lead us into Spacebars.Broken’s downright annoying ‘Hairdryer’. A sonic blast of noise that sounds like it was created to irritate and if so its mission accomplished!
The Faff are up now and we desperately need something good to keep faith with these tracks! They duly deliver with ‘Gary’s Balding’, a relentless, hundred mile an hour energy blast. Will spits his vocals with Yorkshire, Monkey-like conviction and dark synths heighten the whole bombastic affair. A needed kick up the arse and Flaveret 3rd continue this with an intensely harsh intro which levels off into inoffensive rock after threatening to pulverise everything that went before.
- Murderous Traffic
- Presents Zavvi Hometown Vaults Mk II (2008)
- Category: Album
- Label: Murderous Traffic
- Reviewed by: Sascha Boehm
- Published on: 29 Jan 2008
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
Weblinks
Add to favouritesThe High from Knottingley, add a much needed groove with pulsing bass and skipping beats. They’re musically sound with some promising aspects but sadly let down by the flat vocal which doesn’t really go anywhere.
The Critiques, on the other hand come in like a breath of fresh air with rumbling drums and sweetly sweeping lyrics that “ache for you”. It’s no surprise they have plenty of gigs lined up. The brilliant female vocals continue with The Antix and Grace Bickerton’s are as good as any on here. ‘The Cat’ is a superb slice of rock n’ roll that recalls Jefferson Airplane at their very best, they have a new fan here and I need more!
The metallic, instrumental Blues from Heymoonshakerbluesis a delight, it builds and dips then charges to a stunning finale. Refreshingly different! The busiest of all the bands here are Above Them. Granted, it doesn’t measure quality by how many gigs you have booked but they must be doing something right. Their full, rounded sound is polished and full of passion. The Pixies’ formula of heavy then soft works for them well and this band are definitely going places.
Our penultimate number is an acoustic strum along from Fearless Family. Coming on like Ray Lamontagne, ‘Thunderlove’ is well written and executed with just enough emotion to make the hairs on my neck tingle.
So, it’s left to ultCult to wrap things up and they do it in a suitably strange and almost spooky fashion. Uneasy strings from a twisted violin create the unusual and it’s easy to see why Edith Bowman has been bewitched by them. Delicate, fairy-like words are whispered in a Bjork style and it’s all over as you come out of your trance, magical!
Overall, quite an eclectic mix and the talent is hugely varied but when it’s good there are some little gems in here and the guys at Murderous Traffic can be proud of the collection as a whole. I think it’s blatantly obvious who should and shouldn’t be on here but that is irrelevant now and all I suggest is you get a copy and make up your own mind. It’s released on 4th February and also watch out for the appearance on Calender, if you live in the Yorkshire area. The launch night on 3rd February is being filmed for a feature on the show which will be aired Monday 11th February.
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