Audrey, the band with the completely seemingly unfitting, yet perfect name, release their second EP this Saturday, the 20th April. 2019’s answer to rock ‘n’ roll and hailing from Hull, Audrey have been making a name for themselves with their energetic performances and driving rhythms in their music, bringing the parts of the 50s that we all know and love into the 21st Century. Afternoon tea at Audrey’s, an appropriately named EP, for an unusually named band, is a brilliant mix of catchy, feel-good rock ‘n’ roll, laid-back blues and a demonstration of excellent musicianship across the board.
The decision to make Alright the first track of the four was the right one. As soon as you hit the play button, you know you’re in for a bit of feel-good, Elvis-inspired rock ‘n’ roll. The guitar solo followed by a stripped-back chorus that builds back up with stabbing drums and shouting vocals is a real indication of the talent of this band. As any song in the genre should, it makes you want to get up and dance and the memorable ‘it’s alright’ that dominates chorus sets the EP off to a promising start. You can find the video, filmed and edited by Luke Wheldon at Luma Visual, for the single on YouTube, letting us in on what afternoon tea with the band might amount to!
Plotting parlour, number 2 on the EP, takes a more chilled approach, providing a modern play on traditional blues sequences. The stab chords on the guitar combined with the almost military drum beat keeps you hanging on to the verse as it is driven into the full chorus. The numerous sections of the song where the vocals sit over instrumental silences goes to highlight the strength of the voice and the power of the music when it comes back in. Only at track number 2 and we see guitar solo number 2. It’s not hard to tell that they love a good solo, and I do mean a good solo.
Forever in a day is the first of the four tracks to start off with an impressive scream (it’s not the only one). It’s also the only one that seems to take inspiration from punk rock, particularly noticeable in the vocal technique and chorus melody. This is not, however, the exclusive style. In keeping with the rest of the EP, there are rock ’n’ roll influenced drum breaks and a bluesy rock, of course, guitar solo.
Back into rock ’n’ roll rhythms, Tell me what you’re waiting for, is the second song that hooks you in with the scream. The chorus is catchy and is perhaps the one on the EP that is the most ‘poppy’, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean the good sort of British pop that we had in the mid-2000s, and saying that, the vocals in this track are reminiscent of Johnny Borrell, vocalist of Razorlight, and slightly Tom Petty-esque, but executed with much more gusto. And I can't forget to mention the guitar solo.
It’s refreshing to hear a band take on something different, and execute it really well, and that’s exactly what Audrey does. This EP, recorded and edited by Grant Henderson at LOOM Studios, is just an amouse bouche of what’s to come from this band, and shows off what they can do. Every instrument has a role to play, the rhythm is vital and good guitar solos are integral. Afternoon tea at Audrey’s is released this Saturday 20th April and you can catch their launch the same night at Off the Road, Spring Bank West - just at the bottom of Prices Avenue. With support from local band The Avenues, the night starts at 7pm and entry is only £3. Get yourselves down for a brilliant night of new music and support the local music scene!
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