Brother & Bones - To Be Alive EP (Last Step Records)
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| Brother & Bones - To Be Alive |
Release Date: 14th October 2013
I'm a soppy git at times but I'll
never apologise for blubbing like a child when the right/wrong song is playing.
After what has been an emotionally draining few weeks, I have finally sat down
to give this new Brother and Bones EP a listen, knowing full well that these five
lads are usually guaranteed to evoke an emotional response from even the
hardiest listener. Sure enough, by about half way through opening track 'To Be
Alive' I am moist of eye as the combination of Rich Thomas' intimate vocal, the
softly but determinedly strummed acoustic guitar and shuffling percussion draws
you in to the band's world. The early promise of safety and intimacy is soon
blown apart by a huge, festival sized chorus as the rest of the band chime in
with their trade mark passion and precision. And there are four more tracks to
come, this could be tough going....
The darkly urgent acoustic openings
of 'Raining Stone' conjures images of some inexplicable mix of the Memphis
swamps and a cold Victorian London doorway but in either scenario nothing good
is lurking around the bend. The sheer size and power of 'Raining Stone' is
something to behold as well as admire, there aren't many British rock bands
with cajones or ambition this size around at the moment. The haunting piano
opening of 'Lost As One' should only ever be played by candle light to allow
the listener to focus in on every key stroke and lip smack as Thomas sings a
gentle, heart rending lament full of regret and remorse. Needless to say, by
the time the slide guitars, gentle percussion and plodding bass notes come in I
am a wreck but, and I can't stress this enough, if music doesn't make you feel
something - good or bad - then it is utterly, utterly pointless.
The hypnotic opening bass riff of
'Long Way To Go' is like a boat being gently tossed on the waves, not far from
shore in the dead of night but as the waves grow in intensity so the song
builds and the tempest is in full flow by the time Thomas leaves you with the
words "Did you cry just to make yourself be heard?" The final track
on this EP, 'Gold and Silver', is a treat for long time fans of Brother and
Bones as this is a live favourite that sees this swirling, snarling beast of a
band pause to regain composure and gently implore the sweating, heaving throng
to look within themselves to find the real riches of life. "Gold and
Silver means nothing to the blind" might sound like a trite line to some
but in this context it is the most direct and honest way of making the point
that a generation seems to have missed on an alarming scale - it's the
"money can't buy you love" message repackaged and not before time.
With a packed live schedule
coming up over the autumn following on from another successful festival season,
things are still moving in the right direction for the quintet but I hope
someone starts giving these guys some serious airplay soon or I'll be forced to
write a strongly worded letter. Especially if they keep playing Robin Cocking Thicke
instead of music with a soul and a heart. Right, hand me a tissue, that's
enough emoting for now!
More information: www.brotherandbones.co.uk
Live Dates:
5th October - Fleche D'Or, Paris (supporting Boxer
Rebellion)
11th October - The Forum, London (supporting Boxer
Rebellion)
12th October - Portland Arms, Cambridge
13th October - Brudenell Games Room, Leeds
14th October - The Deaf Institute, Manchester
16th October - The Temple, Birmingham
18th October - Louisiana, Bristol
19th October - The Haunt, Brighton
20th October - Joiners, Southampton
21st October - Cellars Portsmouth
23rd October - Winchester, Bournemouth
24th October - The Acorn, Penzance
25th October - The White Rabbit, Plymouth
26th October - Kings Arms, Georgham (Acoustic Show)
27th October - The Live Room, Taunton
29th October - Mama Stones, Exeter
30th October - The Arts Centre, Bridgewater
1st November - Moles, bath
2nd November - Moon Club, Cardiff
3rd November - Sin City, Swansea
9th November - Boileroom, Guildford
10th November - The Bullingdon Arms, Oxford
11th November - Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes
15th November - Mello Mello, Liverpool
16th November - Think Tank, Newcastle
18th November - Fruit, Hull
19th November - The Duchess, York
20th November - Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh
22nd November - Broadcast, Glasgow
23rd November - Cafe Drummond, Aberdeen
24th November - 20 Rocks, Dundee
25th November - The Bodega, Nottingham
27th November - The Musician, Leicester
28th November - Bucks Uni, High Wycombe
29th November - Open, Norwich
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