Steve Malik & Loz Pettite from Coventry UK (previously known as The Tones) formed a duo acoustic act in early January 2009.
In the years that followed they have developed a song writing maturity and gained valuable live performance experience playing the Godiva Festival and Ricoh Arena opening for the Specials on their UK Coventry Tour Date to a crowd of 10,000.
They have now recorded 4 tracks for their debut EP. We had a listen:
I did not really get into the whole Simon & Garfunkel thing during “The Sound of Silence” period. I heard the song, of course. But it didn’t register. It wasn’t until the “Bridge over Troubled Water” period that the duo’s songs really impacted on me.
It was actually “Cecilia“ that really hit me. Like a bat over my head. I had a girl named Cecilia at that stage. And this bouncing bed-spring song of theirs was uncannily accurate. She really was “Shaking my confidence daily…” How did they know that?
The thing is, their songs were sweet on the outside and acidically sour on the inside. They were lemon drop songs. Sweet candy with an effervescent inner hell. I have been searching for that kind of adult orientated lemon-drop folk-rock ever since.
So it is pleasing to tell you that ‘No More Love’ will certainly remind you of Simon & Garfunkel. “I can’t stay in this place no longer – there is no place to go when you’re feeling low.” Sing the boys bitterly. But this is against a shimmering fantasy of tinselly guitars and a pace that makes you wriggle with pleasure. Soon you will find yourself joining in with the chorus “No More Love… “ La la la.
‘Only You’ is more reminiscent of The Proclaimers. It has that repetitive bounce one would associate Charlie and Craig Reid. And a sort of mocking crunch that a singer/songwriter can only get when he has lived through more failed exploits than he cares to admit to. And any number of major disappointments have brought him to his knees. The low-twanging stomp is provocative and adds unspoken violence to this piece. And the “Only You’ chorus is finely edged with a lace filigree of beautifully warm guitar.
‘Victoria’ dashes at you. With a bouquet of flowers in it’s hand. It’s that light and golden. How romantic. But, as you probably expect – Victoria, the latest flame- is just another heart-breaker. She “Wrapped [him] around her finger / Now seems so far away.” Yes, we know that feeling don’t we? And so, like the bunch of flowers, love fades . And so does this song. It’s an artfully crafted and immensely satisfying piece of music.
The EP finishes with ‘Rise Up’ which has a regular thump. And some hard-strummed chords. It is a song about getting back onto your feet. Yes you. The consummate warrior. You may be a beaten fighter. But it’s time to get up and get going again. Put this song on your headphones and wonder why you cared at all. When this song gives you the strength to go – use it . And Rise Up. Wonder Boy.
Very highly recommended. For lovers of Simon & Garfunkel and The Proclaimers. And lemon-drop songs.
9/10
– © Neil_Mach September 2013 –
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/MalikandPettite
RAW RAMP 