Posted on July 6, 2010 - by Editor

Record Reviews: Broken Nose/ Laura Stevenson And The Cans/ The Blackout Brigade

No Compromise
Broken Nose
Frontline Records

This Skacore band based in Bridgend South Wales offers an eclectic mix of punk, ska, dub and “urban” influences with a rap-core hip hop style on some songs. As a results it’s a difficult band and album to categorise which is fine but there are some distinct influences; vocally there are massive comparison to Stza in his Leftover Crack days, with the near whiny- aggro-core pitch of Phil on vocals. But beyond that the fusion of styles akin to Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand and even Intro5pect at times means the collective horns (trumpet and Sax), synths and tendency to move from slowed down dub styling’s (‘Survival Dub’) to piano opening then pumping ‘Don’t Fuck With Me’ and aggro ‘Strike’ indicates a band that is happy to experiment and create its own identity and not sound quite like anyone else. That said I don’t know if I’m a fan of all the songs and the record never really flows in my opinion and the core-urban mix is a one I’ve never been overly excited by; that’s just my feeling. I imagine the band live would be a good spectacle if the energy and pace are replicated but they are very much at the fore of the modern UK skacore sound that has risen in popularity.

A Record
Laura Stevenson And The Cans
Asian Man Records

This is one of those records that sits borderline on my consciousness for appearing in a punk magazine but the truth is that Laura Stevenson comes from a punk rock background and Asian Man has been and is one of the best independent punk record labels around. If you hear a more beautiful angelic voice than Laura’s I will be surprised but it is also her ability to craft songs with infectious melodies and combine a wide assortment of instruments including distorted guitars, banjo’s, trumpets and violins and in the process create a mood that sways from indie sickly sweet to melancholic sad through the record. The album is also crystal clear in sound and excellently produced from finger picking guitars, to Laura’s vocal range and pitch. Whilst Laura can deliver bone-chilling hauntingly but beautiful sweet vocals on tracks like ‘The Pretty One’, ‘Nervous Rex’ and ‘Baby Bones’ the added distortion and ‘circle pit’ number is without doubt ‘Landslide Song / The Dig’ whilst upbeat ‘Amphibian’ is a fun song. With her background playing with Bomb The Music Industry!!! for a few years this album is far more folk/Americana and indie-soulful. Personal favourites include ‘A Shine To It’ and ‘Beets Untitled’ which are powerful and angelic as Laura shares and evokes emotions from pain to sorrow to joy.

Death and Dishonesty
The Blackout Brigade
Insurgence Records

Although we only recently received this fine record for the Canadian band The Blackout Brigade, apparently it was released in 2009 to decent local reviews. Inspired by bands such as Cocksparrer and Discipline as well Agnostic Front the tri-vocal delivery means there is plenty of variety in sound and much of it is in the streetpunk/oi and hardcore melodic variety with plenty rough around the edges grit. The great guitars and break neck bass lines along with the gang vocal choruses are atypically, angsty and adrenaline pumping. Title track ‘Death and Dishonesty’ is a bit Rancid-esque but a great song nonetheless and the sing along ‘Firing Squad’ and ‘On Our Own’ also stand out.  The acoustic but incredibly resonating ‘Call Of Your Dogs’ strikes a chord and is another album stand out (avoiding the sing along on this track is futile!) The following track ‘Fight For Your Life’ with its bridged slower first half has a great build up and the gruff-vocal verses on the punkier second half repeat of the song work nicely. Altogether an uplifting and soaring album with plenty to throw your fists at and warm the vocal chords too!