3D Shark - Neon Teeth EP (CD)
The debut CD from Belfast band 3D Shark and another wee cracker from the Time To be Proud label. Not an easy band to pigeonhole but that's no bad thing. The intro to the opening track Short Back And Sides fools you into thinking 3D Shark are gonna take you down a Stage B like dark, gothic pathway but turns into a full blown swamp rockin' , bluesy creation. From there on in we're treated to Clash style guitars, the ocassional Buggles type vocal, with shades of the Young Marble Giants, plus Freshies like humour! Stand out track here is Outing To Albania with the aforementioned Clash style guitars, the band sounding not unlike label mates the Dollybyrds. The 'hup, hup, hup's' lifting the song to another level, lol! Love it. Humour abounds on the remaining three tracks (Theme From) 3D Shark, Joe Summer, and Pete Major. The impression I get is of a band who are serious about their music, but don't take themselves too seriously! This is my first taste of 3D Shark, looking forward to the next bite! Good songs and good fun.
Time To Be Proud EP 2 (CD)
This is the 2nd in a series of 12 limited edition 4 track CD Ep's featuring a wide variety of Northern Irish bands and artists performing unique cover versions of songs from the glory days of Harp Bar era N.I. punk.
Track 1) St Vitus Dance - Overcome By Fumes (The 60's pop influenced indie band add a twist to the old Rudi classic. An wee Echo and The Bunnymen vibe to this version (not surprising as singer Noel Burke did front that band for a time) but more upbeat).
Track 2) Axletramp - Strange Thing By Night ( a reworking of the Victim song which became the A-side of their debut single on the Good Vibrations label way back in 1978. This one doesn't veer too much from the original albeit slightly more rocky. Axeltramp were formed by George and Johnny Beavis - one time cohorts of Rudi's Brian Young in the bands Tigersharks and The Roughnecks.)
Track 3) Cara Cowan - Magnum Force (This is an interesting one! Cara Cowan covers the old Outcasts favourite. Cara is the daughter of Outcast Martin Cowan and niece of fellow Outcasts Greg and Colin (RIP). This is a fairly laid back version, with Cara's sleek, stylish, almost sophisticated vocal set against a Jonathan Richman Egyptian Reggae style backing. Does dad Martin play guitar on this?)
Track 4) Velma - Suspect Device (a pulsating, high octane, Riot Grrrl style rendition of Stiff Little Fingers debut single from this female fronted band. Had never heard a girl sing Suspect Device before - I like it! Good job.
I'm loving this wee series of EP's already. Can't wait to see who's on the next one (which should be out in November????)
Both CD's available from usual outlets in Belfast. All Time To Be Proud releases available online via Ebay
Track 1) St Vitus Dance - Overcome By Fumes (The 60's pop influenced indie band add a twist to the old Rudi classic. An wee Echo and The Bunnymen vibe to this version (not surprising as singer Noel Burke did front that band for a time) but more upbeat).
Track 2) Axletramp - Strange Thing By Night ( a reworking of the Victim song which became the A-side of their debut single on the Good Vibrations label way back in 1978. This one doesn't veer too much from the original albeit slightly more rocky. Axeltramp were formed by George and Johnny Beavis - one time cohorts of Rudi's Brian Young in the bands Tigersharks and The Roughnecks.)
Track 3) Cara Cowan - Magnum Force (This is an interesting one! Cara Cowan covers the old Outcasts favourite. Cara is the daughter of Outcast Martin Cowan and niece of fellow Outcasts Greg and Colin (RIP). This is a fairly laid back version, with Cara's sleek, stylish, almost sophisticated vocal set against a Jonathan Richman Egyptian Reggae style backing. Does dad Martin play guitar on this?)
Track 4) Velma - Suspect Device (a pulsating, high octane, Riot Grrrl style rendition of Stiff Little Fingers debut single from this female fronted band. Had never heard a girl sing Suspect Device before - I like it! Good job.
I'm loving this wee series of EP's already. Can't wait to see who's on the next one (which should be out in November????)
Both CD's available from usual outlets in Belfast. All Time To Be Proud releases available online via Ebay