FIVEFIFTEEN - Only Way To Be CD-EP
From Aberdeen and the established consistency of the Fat Hippy label, comes a new limited edition CD single that features this band's brew of bluesy indie with three songs that all hit the spot. “Only Way To Be” revolves around a particularly catchy chorus that sticks in your head long after the song's gone. But overall, it's a rolling mix of stirring guitars, textural bluesy organ, pounding rhythm section, a stinging lead of an electric blues guitar, all topped off with gritty lead vocal and soaring harmony vocals, as the lurch of the verses plays second fiddle to that insanely catchy hook, on a song that is a strong and streaming slice of commercially viable indie blues-rock. “GoldDust”, instrumentally, follows a similar path only here the playing is altogether faster and more urgent, as the stronger lead vocals positively drive into a duplex of massive choruses, the band sounding huge thanks to some excellent production and a great performance from the quintet. Towards the end the music drops to a whisper before this electrifying lead guitar breaks out and a suitably on fire solo is played out over the dramatic drive of the rhythm section and the swirling undercurrent of organ and rhythm guitar, all of which sees the track to its end point. Finally, “Tall Tales” blazes into life with surging guitar riffs and leads over lurching drums, pounding bass and that swirl of organ. The vocal enters to deliver the song in powerfully brooding fashion before rising up into yet another high-flying chorus as there's a real sense of power and urgency to the playing, and yet again, the band sounding positively epic. Then they up the anti, accelerate the pace and this stream of searing heat electric guitar leads just fires up over the driving drums, the rich organ river and the riffing rhythm guitar to take the track out in a flaming instrumental heat of awesome proportions. Overall, three excellent tracks with a wicked sound and some seriously fine playing – from a band that crosses genres with ease and effect.