Surrey’s Gold Phoenix release long awaited second EP There’s No Illusion Here on May 7th, following the single release of ‘Oh So Hard’ on August 8th. The EP radiates neo-psychedelia and garage rock throughout the five tracks, with a hint of cock rock in ‘Black Bullet’. Since forming in 2014 the trio have released a self titled EP and two singles, and have recently just finished their ten date European headline tour which had taken place in February and March.
Single release ‘Oh So Hard’ causes a build of tension within its one minute and six second suspenseful instrumental intro; with bassist Fred Higley and drummer Ed Suter creating the foundation for the track. Though the energy is high, at times the track swoons intro a melancholic state because of the way the vocals are poured out so emotionless by lead singer and guitarist Jamie Tipson - but the riveting guitar solos bring the track back to life.
The track portrays emptiness and cold-heartedness within one-self, recognising it in someone else, and falling in love with them regardless. Even the most misunderstood of people can be seen as art and be admired and related to.
“Subdued, black art. It seems, it seems to me, we fit, we fit, vaseline.”
Authentic 00’s alternative rock track ‘Hard to Beat’ is a heavily focused guitar track that has a catchy upbeat feel to it, and it’s about a girl that’s driving him wild. Ed smashes his drum solo towards the end of the track, and then when the song falls back into the chorus, the backing vocals then swirl out, as they fade and echo into the guitar.
Get your bandanas, leather trousers and animal prints out, and let down your hair for cock rock track ‘Black Bullet’. High pitched moans trail on the last word of every line, and dynamic guitar solos rule the two chorus, two verse track. Groovy rock track ‘Hot ’n’ Cold’ is about a volatile relationship between two damaged people. All instruments come to a halt after Jamie’s falsetto vocals on the chorus, to allow complete silence for ‘when you’re hot and cold’.
“You, you should know, you, you should know - when you’re hot and cold.”
Closing track ‘Every Step of the Way’ really emits that 90s neo-psychedelia feel whilst combining it with garage rock, and the one minute outro of music chaos solidifies the garage rock within the track, and the EP comes to an end with a guitar strum.
There’s No Illusion Here is an EP of self-realisation jam-packed with guitar time, and energy. Despite the fact that ‘Oh So Hard’ swoons into a melancholic state due to the way the vocals are performed, the bands energy throughout is high. There’s No Illusion Here is a pure rock ‘n’ roll record, that covers a combination of 80s, 90s and 00s rock; cock rock track ‘Black Bullet’ is very 80s, meanwhile ‘Hard to Beat’ is very 00s and ‘Every Step of the Way’ is very 90s. This new EP will be very Hard to Beat.
Keep up to date with the band on their social medias:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter - @GoldPhoenixBand
No comments:
Post a Comment