Broadway Danny Rose Passive Aggressive Post-Its
Broadway Danny Rose have a sound that cannot be deftly summarised
but is recognisable as their own nonetheless. Their new EP opens with
Rabbit Foot - a whirl of skewwhiff rnb riffage
that wouldnt be out of place on a Dr.Feelgood record, broken
up by an untypical chord progression on the instrumental break that
gives off surfy vibes. Along the way we get grungey with Jeffreys
Place, jangly in a Wedding Present-type way on Organised
Sports, and finish on the slow-burning country-tinged ballad
Carrie Simmons.
Artists covering a lot of stylistic ground like this can sometimes
sound aimless, hoist by their own petard. Not so in this case, thanks
to the strong presence of the performers. James Tyrell has a gutsy
and jagged guitar playing style that sits well throughout, and singer
Joe Bell shows considerable range. His near-baritone croon of Carrie
Simmons (think Tindersticks) plays in direct contrast to the
high-vibrato bleat of Rabbit Foot (think Jello Biafra)
and yet it sounds like the same guy, which is harder to execute than
one might imagine.
The band's performing strengths are served well by a professional
but unfussy production. Overdubs appear to be used sparingly as the
song arrangements feel like they have been licked before they even
set a (rabitts) foot inside the studio. This is a very strong
EP from a band who are always entertaining.
Rich
Available from 24th February through Bandcamp
https://broadwaydannyrose.bandcamp.com/track/jeffreys-place
Broadway Danny Rose will be appearing at the R*E*P*E*A*T Night at
The Portland Arms on March 11th, details here