ANY COLOUR BLACK - The Answer CD-EP

Glasgow duo, Louise on vocals, programming and guitar, Andy on second guitar, currently making big waves throughout Scotland with some rip-roaring live performances and this latest EP serves to bolster everything that's being said.
The title track opens proceedings and, from the start, you hear the progression from the previous EP as there overall sound is a lot busier with more textures and layers from the guitars, fx and electronic drums and programmed beats. The song itself is one of those songs that just cycles round and round a heady chorus and hook and sticks in your head for ages after. The song starts with throbbing sequencer rhythms before the electronic drums kick in and that yearning female vocal delivers the verse with passion and sultry, sexy intensity, as the guitars roar away and the electronic and drum rhythms kick in and bounce, stutter and drive their way through the song. Gradually layers are piled on and things get ever more incandescent, as that biting yet sexy female lead vocal delivers the verses and those swirling choruses with authority, getting ever more intense as the song develops, all backed by a searing heat of driving guitars, electronics, programms and electronic drums, so hot, it's smoking out of your speakers by the end, as, indeed, are you.
If this wasn't gem enough, wait till you hear “You” - if the last one was smoking, this is positively nuclear!! Starts with throbbing, swirling electronics as this feedback guitar ushers in a mighty blast of drums, heat-seeking guitars and roaring guitars as the whole thing stomps and strides with purpose. On top of this, that sultry, impassioned sex-fest of a lead female vocal delivers the verse dripping with emotion and sweat before she and the band erupt into the chorus with jaw-dropping results before setting back into the verses as the rhythms and guitars and electronics carry on blasting through with mighty rhythms, burning riiffing and blazing soloing, all heralding the finale where the whole thing erupts and the vocals take off like a rocket to end a track that leaves you breathless with amazement every time you hear it, an absolute classic of a song by any standards.
“Start A Fire” opens with emotive upfront vocals from Louise as solitary electric piano chords accompany before the soft yet emotive vocals are embellished with kick drum beats and soaring, deep strings. Then a ringing guitar lead is added as the song strides out but still keeping the more ballad-like yet every bit as intense mood of the song alive as this mix of strings and synths drives the distant guitars, stomping beats and soaring wordless, angelic female vocals, all to wondrous effect. Louise then heads back to the verse-as-chorus mainframe of the song as the backing layers develop with ever more guitars, more electronics, more drums, hell, more of everything, as the vocals once again become impassioned, intense and pouring emotion out of every pore as this huge finale sweeps you up and lifts you off.
Finally, there's “Hold On Me”, opening with deep, bass-heavy cascading synths, electronic drum rhythms and, not long in, chiming guitars. Louise's vocal enters, sounding lightly more menacing, the song now driving forward as the pace intensifies, the chorus appears almost as an afterthought, to just the throbbing synths before this huge eruption of electronic swirl comes and goes, leaving the song to be delivered once more with almost delicious sexual vocals giving the thing a mood that's a mix of hypnotic and fiery. The electronics swirl as the rhythms don't falter, the guitars chime and those treated vocals intone the chorus with positive fear in its eyes, drawing you in, to eat you up as the whole thing finally roars to the skies in a blaze of burning guitars, electronics, prgrammed rhythms, drums, more guitars and the vocal with fire in its eyes, delivering a heady chorus that's got you well and truly hooked.
Overall, just one word – incredible!! One superb EP, one amazing band!!

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