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| Tracklist: 01. Oh Amy - 02. Swim - 03. Newark |
There is this one question most bands and musicians have trouble to
answer, even though it's an essential one, one that defines and
outlines their music, that puts their being as musicians in concrete
terms. What music do you embrace? Simple as that. Yet to narrow down
one's genre, or to give an insight in what music, which artists have
influenced the forming and progress of bands is difficult, tricky.
Most musicians don't claim only one genre to be theirs, they have
come up with a more or less clever combination of some, draw
inspiration of many, interpret music at times more, at times less
inspiringly. You need to be content with an evasive, not exactly
satisfying answer as plenty bands won't specify their sound in
greater detail to you, unless you follow up on it. Dare to ask, to
dig deeper and you might eventually be 'enlightened'. You might
eventually be given an answer, but will you be more in the know of a
band's sound afterwards? That's another the
question. Especially since 'indie' as reply is fast at hand. Indie
rock. Indie pop. Indie (sub)genre xy. However, indie is no genre.
Neither is this attempt to label one's sound claryfying at all. As
much as indie suits to qualify an ethos, an attitude, a situation
musicians embody and find themselves in, being their own producers,
managers and promoters, it doesn't to determine one's colour of
sound, one's musical direction. You see deciding on one's sound, may
it be its tendency, disposition, may it be its 'definition', is not
that easy, as pronouncing it might 'bind' to a specific genre, a
specific arrangement of songs, might raise certain expectations both
the musicians and the listeners develop. In the end it's a fine line
between defining and confining.
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| CAVES [f.l.t.r.:] Jon Huntley (bass guitar), Andy Pink (vocals/rhythm guitar), Dan Carney (vocals/lead guitar), Daniel Walsh (percussion) |
Maybe that's why bands try to class with original terms to
describe, to define their music, simply in order to elude definite labelling. They thereby give a hint of
what their music sounds like, what the audience is exposed to, yet
avoid to emphasize a concrete genre or timbre. Allowing bands to
experiment with their sound within an enlarged, but not too
widespread scope, eventually to find their individual sound whilst
composing, during an improptu session or rehearsal, often brings
their musical vision into being in the first place, makes them
realize and agree on what musical path to strike. The liverpool
located band Caves has adopted a not less vague term as 'indie' to
distinguish their sound: new music. With this broadly defined
predicate, given in their facebook biography, the foursome drafts a
certain perception of their sound - it implies a refreshing, brisk,
daring theme, innovative even - without designating their music's
essence in-depth. It's what arouses interest, curiosity but what also
gives them the chance to surprise, to make their musical debut a
severe experience for both the band and the audience. It's eventually
what gives them space to venture, to take a chance, to wander through
the vast music landscape, to perceive diverse melodic shapes, to
express themselves by concretizing their 'musical image' step by
step, song by song. Debuting their EP 'One' Caves succeed in not only
revealing the core of their sound by degrees, but also in brisking up
today's musical monotony with spirited, keen songs, with inspired
compositions, which bear an impetuous and gripping momentum already,
but for now lack an inspiring constant. Nontheless the band is on the
right track with their fierce and fiery, dynamic and bold, simply
put, with their fresh sound - and 'One' gives an audible and imposing
testimony to it.
'Oh Amy, don't you know you make me, you make me smile' - with
sharply echoing, bold and flaring vocals of both tonal clarity and
pungeny, Andy Pink introduces the EP's first track in an atmospheric
and already absorbing manner. As a listener you can't help but grin
about this characteristic yet audacious musical lead-in that is
backed by an unstable, still exciting and trenchant guitar
arrangement in places. 1,2,3,4 - fast-paced, now spirited riffage and
dynamic drum beats salute you and you are fully drawn into the song,
are even more tangled up in the musical vortex that is 'Oh Amy' as
vibrant and rapid guitar riffs, exciting and rousing drum sequences,
a severely reverberative and deep bass line are intensively mingled
with an expressive and rising, almost grungy vocal performance. At
the point the song approaches its glowing and keen closure, the
foremost fierce and tingly vocal lead is differentiated by adding
high-spirited and ardent polyphonic elements, and it shows that the
track's incisive feature is the nuanced and forceful array of
vocals. '.. cause I know deep down in my soul, one of these days
you'll be mine' - the listener though may be taken in by the band's
music even now, being offered a refreshing, evocative but also
accessible and catchy composition.
Official music video for 'Swim' (feat. Dominic Dooley)
Tangible, audible tension is created as soon as sonorous, imbuing
drum beats and forceful, dim riffage rise and herald the forthcoming
song. Whilst the tense and prompt instrumentation gains both strength
and speed, the tonal tension is deepened, then resolved as Dan Carney
takes the vocal lead. Vigorous, electrifying and feisty vocals
determine the song's rhythm now, the former swift, almost ecstatic
instrumental arrangement grows stronger, is marked by intense and
fuzzy guitar riffs, by vehement drum beats and sets up the emphatic
chorus for a second time. Carney's vocal performance adopts a
sweeping, brisk colour of sound here. 'Swim' eventually flows into an
erratic, dashing but accentuated instrumental finish, one that is
pieced together in chime and carries the listener along with its
energetic, rapid compositional current.
Impetuous, vivacious drum beats, bright, obtrusive and
staccato-esque guitar riffs reach for the listener, melt into a
melodically unleashed, upbeat, still smooth sound of frisky, buoyant
vibe. This frisky vibe is strongly embodied by Andy Pink's cocky,
blithe yet edgy vocal performance, which is shortly after backed by a
high-pitched and haunting vocal extension, brought to the audience by
Dan Carney. 'We can do this alone or we can do this as two' - and
Caves do it as two, highlighting the disparity of timbres and
adopting an exhilarent vocal colour, as Dan takes over the lead and
enhances, alters the listening experience 'Newark' has offered thus
far with his light, flickering vocals. It's an avid, pungent and more
stimulating tonal atmosphere now. Exuberant and orotund trumpet
melodies complement the rich and perky, overall vivifying melodic
setting of the song - which is defined by dashing drum beats and
elated riffage - and segues into a tense blend of vocal harmonies. '… but you know it ain't that easy, (don't you know by now?') always
getting what you need' - in this case though it is: expecting lively,
stirring, dynamic and catchy melodies, the band's music, especially
'Newark' serves the listener well and pleases easily.
In sum, it's no 'new music' the liverpool based foursome presents
with their debut release. It's alternative, authentic and brisk music
with cleary recognizable pop traits - catchy hooks, blithe sound,
memorable lyrics. It's neither inciting music the band has come up
with, it's distant from being psychedelic or progressive even, yet
it's exciting and electrifying one as Caves establish a refreshing
approach to and dynamic execution of music by combining pop elements
easy to grasp with edgy rock features, thus showcasing slick and
shiny, exhilarant pop compositions with a rocking, rousing
undercurrent, a sharp core of sound. It's unquestionably an
eye-catching, audience-grabbing music mark the band has made with
'One' - the spark is ignited, the listener is electrified yet not
fully on fire. It's certain to tell, to predict though that Caves
have the fiery passion for, the blazing sense of music to make the
audience catch fire with their energetic and infectious beats and
melodies in the long run. Hence here's to chapter TWO.
Reach out to the band and listen to their brisk and energetic music on:
soundcloud
itunes
Get a physical copy of 'One' here.
Your next chance to see Caves perform: The Zanzibar, Liverpool. Feb. 21st. doors 8pm.
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