York’s very own alternative rock gang continue to furrow their unique and mightily wonderful direction with their new EP ‘Modern Mirror’. The Bricks are Guy (Guitar), Gemma (Vox), Marc (Drums) and Paul (Bass). The title track and the first song on the EP, “Modern Mirror” is dark, sharp and oozes post punk energy with Gemma’s manic performance being bold enough to make punk priestess Siouxse jealous. I can feel some solid early Sex Pistols energy and anger seeping through “A Lie”. The incessant riffage is stunning. Gemma is famous (or maybe infamous) for giving a song a title that has nothing to do with the lyrical content, that is the case, I believe, with “Snake”. The track has a bluesy, languid, punk vibe and Gemma’s voice evoke the finest moments of Lene Lovich and Poly Styrene.
The music on every track is fiery and explosive, none more so than on “Icarus”. They even throw over some great cowbell here. This song needs to be a single. “Contraption” rocks along like a punky cartoon chase with a cutting few couplets, notably “nice try, you’re boring. Nice try, I’m yawning”. This is currently my favourite track on the EP. The instrumentation on “Meantime” would fit nicely on side one of Bowie’s ‘Low’ album from 1977. There really is no one quite like the Bricks at the moment. If he were still alive John Peel would fucking love them! The EP was recorded at The Stationhouse, Armley, Leeds by James Atkinson in July of last year. It was released at the end of November last year. If you haven’t already heard it, listen now! That is an unrefusable order!
CLICK HERE to give it a spin on Bandcamp. Listen to it, stream it, or better still download it for just £5.
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