Sunflies - Coping Strategies

Today saw the release of Hertfordshire’s four piece ‘Alt.Rock’ act Sunflies’ debut EP “Coping Strategies.” This three track effort’s first offering opens with duel feedbacking guitars, which unfortunately remain the highlight for all that is to come.

Predictable chord structures upon indie-disco drum lines force this track forwards, with an obscurely filtered bass line only adding to the horrific predictability and lack of originality presented. In what can only be called an average effort from what one would have hoped to be a more experienced, creative outfit as a result of the multitude of line-up changes, lots is left to be desired.

Thankfully however, Sunflies did not start as they mean to go on as second track “High Times” presents a band far more fitting with influences such as Joy Division, The Cure and PJ Harvey. Dark, foreboding guitar lines lead the listener through a rich journey, lashed with strings and subtle marching drums; no longer reminiscent of run-of-the-mill high school guitar pop but rather a band worthy of genuine note. The additional vocal lines offered by Joanna Scott here add great deals to the depth of the track, hauntingly harmonising with front man James Scott’s grunge era inspired vocal.

Final track, “Too Late for Hate” again opens with feedbacking guitars, but this time manages to make a good effort at a respectable pop song. However, plagued by less-than-original song writing attributes and disappointingly unimaginative bass lines, Sunflies again have missed the mark with this, a song indistinguishable from any other picked out from a hat filled of early-nineties pop-rock.

With the promise presented within the “High Times,” Sunflies clearly have it within them to write really great songs. However, if future efforts remain as uninspiring and lackluster as the rest of this EP, I can’t see us hearing much more from this band.

Label: Manilla PR
Release Date: November 2008

Related posts:

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows The year’s 1997 - OK Computer has been released and...
2. Glissando - With Our Arms Open Wide We March Towards The Burning Sea Although Glissando’s Elly May Irving and Richard Knox have previously...
3. Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me Alex Turner, cheeky chappy of Arctic Monkeys fame, has given...
4. Interpol - Our Love To Admire Which band have Interpol been compared to more than any...
5. Foals - Hummer There’s a short description for a band like this. I...