The year 2020 will forever be remembered as the time that everything changed and the world as we once knew it changed forever. Former Kyshera main man James Kennedy must have had a touch of the mystic Meg about him when writing and recording this prophetic sonic masterpiece earlier this year. In a world obsessed by Brexit and Trump it seemed that this era couldn't get any more surreal, how wrong we were, enter a virus ‘Made In China’ to completely change everyone's lives.
The cover emblazoned with Russian style revolutionary Politik imagery and calligraphy sets up the listener for the revolutionary call to arms that is contained herein. Even the albums title is a jibe at Trump’s rabble rousing slogan of Make America Great Again (I for one will not be able to see a MAGA baseball hat on a redneck without thinking of James and this aural Tour de Force)
Lydon once enamoured us with the notion ‘Anger is an Energy’ and James picks up the gauntlet on opener The Power. I had always thought of Kyshera as being like an angry Muse, well James solo is like an even angrier Kyshera and this track gives us a taste of things to come with its accompanying video initially banned by youtube only adding to the revolutionary nature of the album.
The angst comes thick and Fast on nearly all the tracks and they all have positively filthy guitar riffs and shouty up and at 'em chorus’. Solace In Sickness is almost a ballad by comparison but the anger is still there and it is probably my favourite track on the collection closely followed by Autopsy.
Kick out the jams kids and get yourselves some short sharp revolutionary kicks, i heartily recommend James’ accompanying book Noise Damage also just released for the background behind the making of this Rock n Roll Underdog from the South Wales Valleys.
CHRIS PHILLIPS
KEEP CARDIFF LIVE
THE PANDEMIC TAPES - COACHES (SELF RELEASED - OUT NOW)
The year 2020 is probably not an ideal time to start a new musical project given that there is no chance of any live performances on the other hand it gives the opportunity to hone your songwriting and get an outfit tight as a drum before being unleashed on an unforgiving public.
Londoner Jake Hussey came to Wales with an impressive set of songs composed Prince like in demo form, a chance work encounter with drummer James Phillips led to them discovering that they had many similar musical influences (more of that later), the band grew during lockdown to include Jake’s brother George Hussey on rhythm guitar / vocals, Ceri Ellis on lead guitar/vocals and Kirsty Thomas on Bass/vocals, all veterans (yet still in their twenties) of various local ensembles. Coaches take their name from the Coach and Horses pub in Abergavenny where all the guys n gals used to meet to for a weekly pub quiz and to plan world domination.
This reviewer has been reviewing bands and artists since the late eighties and musically the valleys have been a hot bed of metal and punk which is fine by me but it is rare that I receive an Indie gem such as the Pandemic Tapes, emblazed with nods to the past but with a fresh urgency that bodes well for the future. The E.P. opens up with Control Us a frenzied call to arms which has all the raw emotion of the Manic Street Preachers in their You Love Us era, Weight Of The World has 100 MPH guitar ala Gedge in the Wedding Present prime and a big shouty chorus.
The pace slows on Surreal with a haunting melody with shades of Oasis with a sprinkling of Fontaines D.C. bass underpinning it all, a heady cocktail indeed. Don’t Listen To The Crowd gets the buzzing chainsaw revving again with a feel of second wave British Punk to deliver a short sharp shock. Purgatory is cut from similar cloth and has shades of S.L.F. (interesting has a major influence is Greenday in the band bio, memories of the fabulous Hi Fidelity film).
These six songs make a great opening statement and the guys save the best till last, Dreamers is like the Stone Roses vocalising over The Cure guitar meanderings. On this evidence 2020 not been a total right off for music. Coaches have taken a blend of influences and mixed them together to make for a welcome tonic in these troubling times.
Live Music be back soon and to paraphrase Frank Zappa, Don’t make a fuss and get on the …….Coach.
Chris Phillips
Keep Cardiff Live
Looking Back: Van Halen in the Capital
In light of the sad news of Eddie Van Halen’s tragic passing, we at KCL pay our respects and look back at when the legendary guitarist and his band visited the capitol supporting Bon Jovi.
The Balance Tour was a concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen promoting their album Balance. It was dubbed the "Ambulance" Tour by Eddie Van Halen due to his hip injury caused by avascular necrosis, and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen wearing a neck brace for most of the tour, due to rupturing three vertebrae in his neck. Consequently, Eddie was a lot more static on stage. This would be the group's last tour with Sammy Hagar on vocals until 2004, when he briefly rejoined the band for a tour. The opening night in Pensacola, and a combination of footage from the two Toronto shows were broadcast on Pay-Per-View.
