| CD REVIEW Consolation Prizefighter |
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Band : Consolation Prizefighter With this Plymouth (coastal city in the South Wast of England) based outfit we've got ourself a somewhat unique band of musicians, musicwize. When you'll look up the band's MySpace page, you'll find they profile themselves as a Punk/ Rock outfit...but really what the foursome consisting of drummer Marc Loftus, guitarist/ lead singer Neil Awart, bassist Craig Smith, and trombone player Oz Holden (all members also contributing additional vocals) bring here is somewhat removed from either of the genres in a strict way of speaking! After all, when one's talking about a hybridisation of either Punk or Rock with the use of a trombone, one might expect the music played to go towards a Ska-influenced sound, right? Not so with Consolation Prizefighter, who were formed 4 years ago with members from several South West bands joined to share music and expand the emerging scene in the Plymouth area. Drawing influences from the likes of David Bowie, Rocket From The Crypt, De La Soul, Black Flag, Johnny Cash, DJ Shadow and Van Halen, you might understand that the band's music defies the usual definition of either "Punk" or "Rock"! The music has alreday been described as "a fusion of a definite 1970's underground sound with a 21st century feel..."! Best to call it "Post Punk/ Rock" then! After all, the "Post" definition usually implies a certain Progressive approach towards the music, which is something that CP définitely have! I haven't had time to check it out, but apparently there's an underlyoing statement linking the songs, encouraging a freedom of spirit to live your life your own way, sharing experiences and music and breaking away from the sometimes restrictive confines of a small town! Highlights in the band's live schedule include tours with Glasnost and Riddle Of Steel, and an appearance at Cornwall's Maker Festival. In late 2005, the band made its recorded debut with their self-released 4-track Clemency EP (which I suspect didn't have the graceful toalities of the trombone yet, Oliver "Oz" Holden only joining somewhere in May of last year. Besides of which, I think bassist Craig only entered the fold in April of this very year). Listen to a couple of songsat myspace.com/consolationprizefighter (there's also two instrumentals on the album, by the way: the short album opening "An Introduction", and the somewhat longer-but-still-short-enough album title track), and find out what makes this band stand out in my book. Regretfully, neither of the 3 posted songs contains that little bit of deep bass (backing) vocal contribution which comes on some of the other songs (quite unlike that on the posted "In Receiving"). In support of their upcoming release, the band has just done a short pre-release tour of France (actually, when I'm writing this – Nov. 1St – they still have to play at Boulogne in the evening) and the South West of England (dates still coming up, of course, so check out the band's MySpace page for details). If these guys ever come to your neck of the woods, dó go see 'em! They're really worth spending some money on! 89/100 Tony. |