Velvet Grooves

Now here's a band! They're called The Colonies, and this is their debut album. Preceding this was a 5 track promo they issued, showcasing unfinished versions of tracks from the album. It was this promo which started off a bit of buzz in industry circles being proclaimed as 'cooler than a 70's coke bottle' . They've had previous releases as a band called 'Thread' on Victory Garden with 'Do What You Do/Beartrap' and on Static Caravan with 'Done Got Died' - which was to be their last. Then they became The Colonies. So here we are with the story. In the present.

Since 'Thread', their sound has changed from the rock group that they were, into something more complex... more tuneful... more intelligent. And so has their lyrics - whereas a lot of bands go just for the plain old simple with not much soul - frontman Dylan Kemlo manages to squeeze them out like he did it all in a previous life. Top that with a soulful voice, and here we have a serious band. Pavement comes to mind.

So with a 'Shipful Of Chandeliers' we have an album which incorporates all this, and does it very well. 'Sister Ship' starts off quietly, building slowly into an atmospheric blast showing their capability as a band of being unpredictable melodically. In tune, this a depature from their previous style, showing that they can tackle more ground than you realise. 'My Ark' becomes more soulful, enhanced further by Dylans' voice and vocals', with instrumentals being simpler and quieter until it becomes climatic by everyone joinging in on vocals. Great :D

Beartrap was their Victory Garden single showing their use of methaphoric lyrics, presumably about marriage being 'taken', in a tough shit kinda way. Ouch! 'On The Hood' is a take on a melody from the Happy Mondays. Shotgun Wedding is the one most likely to make it to a pop-song with its sing-a-long and rhythmic blues-rock. SAU is the full on 'folk song' on the album with a touch of psychedelia from that detuned guitar (sounds like a Sitar!). Something's Going To Give goes full on the reverb to take that psych touch further, until something highly dream-like, until it blasts into 'I Get Paid' - smooth rock 'n roll from the 90's with bass-riffage to make you melt! With Dylans humorous, but thought provoking take on his career. 'Everything you need...' is foot-stomparama with amazing bass. If you aren't taken by this, you're surely numb in the mind....

So in a nutshell, there's so many styles from this band, it's hard to not take them seriously. With lyrics to confront the intellectuals, instumentals to please the open-minded, and a voice to melt your soul - here we have something superbly special!