MONROW - ROMANTIC ANTICS CD-EP

Whatever you think of their songs, there was never any denying that the first thing you heard when you listened to The Proclaimers, was Scotland. Cue 2009, cue something a bit more serious, cue something equally catchy – and cue Monrow - Scottish indie on a plate. The band bite back the London contingent of Lily Allen and Kate Nash, the Sheffield Arctic Monkeys brigade by presenting something that's better than all of them – a five tracker of original songs that have strength, purpose, addiction, guitars and Scottish pride, oozing out of every pore. The best thing is that it works a treat – the CD opens with the title track as this heavily accented lead vocal intones the opening lines over ringing guitar, before the band kicks in with rapid drumming, cascading bass, delicate riffs and a searing heat lead guitar, the pace intensifying as the band step up a few gears and launch into the song, the vocalist rising above it all with an imploring, almost angry, manner, but all with conviction as the band races, twists and turns along a song that's got the verse-as-hook structure set to a tee. It's pace is its real hook, its rhythms ensnaring you while at the same time, the band is unafraid to drop down for dramatic effect before tearing it all up once more. Over all this, the singer lets go and presents this yearning slice of Scottish angst to perfection. “Before Your Time” starts similarly only this time the ensuing pace and feel of the song is much more akin to a more wholesome version of The View, as a wickedly infectious slice of racing indie-pop, refuses to let go and, although not as overtly heavy as The View, nevertheless manages to intensify and charge through the song, with the singer soaring through the verses and choruses as the band gallop and red hot but clean sounding lead guitar casts its own spell on what is, overall, a great slice of Scottish indie with a decidedly commercial twist.
“Feelin' Edgy” opens with driving beats, chiming guitar leads and riffs before decelerating as the singer delivers the song with a more studied approach. The band then hots up a notch or two as the track gradually lifts off on what then becomes a kind of indie anthem with a story to tell – literally – the veering between light and shade, a great example of the band's writing and arranging skills, but ultimately it's the catchy pace and structure of the main body of the song that takes you over, the addition of a red hot guitar lead two thirds the way through, merely the icing on the cake. “On The Floor” starts with more vocal over guitar riffs, only this time the kick drum adds solidity, as the band then jump in and gallop off into the sunset, the singer delivering a tight as heck, catchy slice of pure indie-pop with purpose, feeling and passion. There's a real sense of power in there too, but it's not allowed to take over, as the band's arrangement lets the song shine through, and it all becomes a real mix of good-time ballad and racy indie fun, commerciality running through its veins, but, like the best pop, something you never tire of hearing a- a great track indeed!! Finally, the EP gives us “Spiral Eyes”, opening with strummed acoustic guitar, vocals a bit more on the raw side of edgy, but a ballad that's got real guts and passion to it, lyrically inviting, still heavily accented singing giving the band their trademark charm, and a sense of real feeling that comes shining on as ringing electric guitar and harmony vocals sail away in the distance.
Overall, it's just great – everything from charming to chiming, addictive and adrenalized, all in all, a perfect slice of decidedly Scottish indie with a definite commercial appeal.

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