Menace Beach
Lowtalker
January 13 2014 (Memphis Industries)
7/10
Words: Leanne Crowley
Hailing from Leeds, Menace Beach, also known as Ryan Needham and Liza Webster, deliver up an exciting new five-track record produced by MJ of Hookworms fame.
Usually a two-piece, this duo aren’t afraid to call upon their extensive ‘friends’ list including talent from bands such as Sky Larkin, and the vocal prowess of Paul Draper of Mansun fame, as well as the aforementioned MJ.
Opener ‘Fortune Teller’ offers heavily effected male vocals at the onset, often hinting strongly at the Suede era alongside luring guitar riffs. This is one if those songs that brings to mind all the good bits of 90s music, which we went mad for then and still remember now. Liza’s interjected female vocals and the fade-out leave the listener eagerly waiting for more.
‘Honolulu’ carries on seamlessly where ‘Fortune Teller’ left off musically, but a change in lyrical style with joint vocals throughout ensures that aurally this is not disappointing. It is a challenge to distinguish the separate elements of this track as vocals power through heavy guitars and ever-rhythmic drums.
‘Where I Come From’ shows the band's versatility of style as it strikes somewhat differently to the two preceding tracks. The drums here are cranked up and the vocals are less to the fore, creating a calmer ambience smacking of the Pixies style somewhat. The powerful minor notes creep through the overall sound and haunt the mind as they are juxtaposed against upbeat guitars.
Penultimate offering, ‘Nervous’, offers souring guitars and packs a strong punch, and is possibly the one track that really makes you stand and take notice. Sure-fire hit ‘Cheerleader’ rounds off the EP. It speaks strongly of the college era, with guitars dominant and an overall slower tempo. The overall noise background contains suitable hints of genius clearly interjected to exhibit the talent of this band without making it overtly obvious what they are capable of. I can almost beer flying, crowd surfers and heads bobbing to this track.
An overall well constructed EP with complimenting songs which offer a rise and fall. The lows of ‘Where I Come From’ alongside the anthem of ‘Cheerleader’ being sure to leave the listener in that warm and fuzzy state to be wished of other artists of similar ilk. It's clear how much work has gone into this EP, both in the recording and producing process. You would be hard-pushed to find someone who would be disappointed with it.
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