Antiqcool’s CD baby page greets you with the following disclaimer “If you like well crafted songs with intricate guitar arrangements and vocal harmonies you’ve come to the right place.” Nuff said.
Strawberry fields sensibility with songs of English working class living. The strength of English bands is in their ability to relate the everyday in local homegrown prose. An ancient practice that maintains a regional integrity in the popular culture ad makes for artists with very original voices. Whether they are influenced by Pub folk or the delta blues, it’s the stuff that musical trends and movements are built on and thats the god honest truth.
That folksy songwriting ethos is pervasive in this collection of songs aptly titled “Songs of Hope and Despair.” When you listen to these songs you can hear the Beatles in the Beach Boys and Yes in The Police. The vocal harmonies and textures in the track “Vows were made of glass” are simply brilliant. There is a craftsmanship to these songs all too evident in the compatibility of the arrangements, colors and textures to the lyrics. Old school concepts yes but so effective in conveying the emotion of a verse. More easily achieved than a change in tempo or change in synth patch but not as easily executed.
Antiqcool’s a no nonsense group serious about their music who obviously focus all their efforts on highlighting their craft not so much on who they are. It’s difficult to listen to a CD and say that every track is a hit. This 13 track EP is loaded with gems like “Pearl”. What an array of colors and beats. It’s like a dream house band with it’s own signature sound. That’s how in command they are of a varied range of styles and genres. It makes for very rich songs and an EP that sounds like your iPod in shuffle.
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More Information
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http://www.antiqcool.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/antiqcool
