Following recent support slots with The Chapman Family and Cymbals Eat Guitars, Surrey-based 'indie noiseniks' Arcs released their second EP, ‘Freckles’, last week (29th November) and I got my hands on a copy to check out the five new tracks. The first thing that struck me about the EP was how different all five songs were from one another. It made a change from the repetitive nature of the releases you tend to hear from small unknown bands, and the change in pace throughout the EP was a refreshing change.
I have to say, first track, 'Murderer' wouldn’t have been my choice to kick start the release. The multi-layered vocals aren’t intriguing enough to pull you in and keep you interested, and the song felt like it was limping along from start to finish despite the intriguing guitar riff and thumping bass drum. This isn’t a way of saying the band aren’t talented, because they clearly are, but as a first song, it doesn’t make the impression it should to keep you wanting more. That said, it'd fit right in on the soundtrack of a Twilight installment or an episode of The Vampire Diaries.
Track two, 'Out Of Breath' is a totally different story. It feels a lot more like a real straightforward vocal, with an almost Tom Meighan arrogance and force. The chorus is much catchier, the song flows really well, and is a much better advert for the bands true talent. The intro to this would've been a MUCH better beginning to the EP, getting straight to the point with the hard rock guitar sound working so well alongside the more indie style vocal.
'Fall Out Of Bed', the third song, is much like 'Out Of Breath' with the vocals carrying the softer song. The bass and drums of the verses sound almost reminiscent of old time Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the change of pace and key towards the end of the track keep the original sound fresh and exciting. A definite stand-out tune on the EP.
The penultimate track on ‘Freckles’, 'Morley's', is the EP’s only instrumental. A rare thing for a band to release, but a great way to showcase the abundance of talent that Arcs have in their midst. At almost 5 minutes, the song does get a tiny bit repetitive even with the riff changes. Again, not enough to keep me interested, and I couldn't help but skip over it after the first listen.
The last song, 'Something From Nothing', is like the perfect bookend to 'Murderer'. Another limping track with those multi-layered vocals that just didn’t do it for me. I'm not sure if Arcs were aiming for that haunting, almost pretty sound on the verses, but the production doesn't do that style any justice, and the song just doesn't go anywhere for me. I don't feel any emotion from the song, and that's definitely something I look for in my music. Whether Arcs can do that in future, who knows? But it won't be with this style of song.
If Arcs stick to the sound of 'Out Of Breath' and 'Fall Out Of Bed', then they could make a mark for themselves in 2011, but I think they need to move away from the sounds they're creating with their other songs as they just don't have the delivery and excitement that fans strive to look for in a new band. Keep an eye out for them - but pick and choose your song choices!
'Freckles' is available to download now from Bandcamp, iTunes, and all major download stores.
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Track two, 'Out Of Breath' is a totally different story. It feels a lot more like a real straightforward vocal, with an almost Tom Meighan arrogance and force. The chorus is much catchier, the song flows really well, and is a much better advert for the bands true talent. The intro to this would've been a MUCH better beginning to the EP, getting straight to the point with the hard rock guitar sound working so well alongside the more indie style vocal. .jpg)
