Various Artists - Music From Across The Nations

The latest batch of artists showcased by Manchester College’s student run Raw Fish Records throws up a mixed batch indeed, at the very least proving that the label keeps a broad eye on musical developments across all genres and just sometimes throwing up a band that’ll make you sit up and take notice. Indeed one of those said bands are the very first on the sleeve notes here.

Scottish group Prince Edward Island provide a benchmark that few others across the twenty tracks here manage to reach; a concise and infectious track called ‘The Keith Disaster Fund’ that nevertheless shows very fleeting glances of a darker underbelly. Jinsky meanwhile makes the sort of admirably earnest atmospheric melodic rock that has commercial potential painted all over it in large red writing.

Indeed, those who’d naively expect a plethora of Oasis/Courteeners hand me downs on this compilation will be delighted find that there’s very little that relates to Manchester’s favourite sons, indeed very little from Manchester itself; of the handful of North West acts on offer only Blue Murders could draw any sort of comparison and even then the croaked ragamuffin vocals only bare a passing nod to any sort of Mancunian linearity. That’s not to say that everyone present here is fresh and original.

Hull two-piece Farino give more than a firm acknowledgement of Rodrigo & Gabriela’s influence on their music on their latino-fused ‘Circadian’ whilst you sense that Roughneck Riot would jump at the chance to join protest folk-rockers the Levellers on tour. Talking of imitation, it’s hard to find anything particularly original from hip-hop’s sole representation here, Educated Thugs, whose backing track is far more interesting than anything they might have to say. Or maybe I just don’t get it.

The instantly noticeable thing about ‘Music From Across The Nations’ is that most of the recent musical fads and trends are on show here, presumably in the hope that if they strike whilst the iron’s hot some of these acts may fast track their way through the dreary months of touring the toilet circuit in clapped out LDV vans. That’s not to say that some of it isn’t rather good though; a minute into ‘Girl From New Orleans’ by Success you’re gripped by an increasing feeling of irritation, two minutes in however and you look down to see your foot tapping to the French act’s LCD Soundsystem-influenced synth-driven pop.

Likewise Soho Electric, an apparent vehicle for the vocal talents of singer Annabelle Platon, have a fine enough attempt to follow the likes of Duffy and Adele through the pearly gates of charts success, but at times you’re wanting a little more. Decora’s Kerrang-lite stylings sadly don’t give it and AFS are even worse, a horribly unimaginative punk-em-up with a lead singer who has a voice that a pig might have were such a specie ever to learn English.

When the highlights do come though they shine through; Red Cells provide gloriously simply and dirty rock n’ roll with just a hint of Death From Above 1979 about them and provide further evidence that the current Leeds music scene is doing Alright. Bradford neighbours Jon Jones & The Beatnicks Movement meanwhile push the intensity even further with an absolutely ramshackle but wholly exhilarating blitz through two and a half minute dirge-along ‘Screw Loose’ that packs enough distortion in there to knock out a hundred Snow Patrols.

Perhaps the best track on here however is one that at first gets lost in the bluster of nu-ravers, soul songstresses and Kerrang front cover wannabes; four-piece Afterspark’s ‘Little Glow’ is a shy, quiet sort of tune that all of a sudden rises out of its shell mainly thanks to the vocal talents of their female lead singer, whose voice is deceptively powerful but never overbearing. Like Prince Edward Island, it’s a high mark that a few efforts on this CD fall short of but one that nevertheless shows that for all the kerfuffle about the music industry at the moment, the music itself is still in rude health. You’ve just got to dig a little.

Related posts:

1. Various Artists: A Sketch For Summer Team Waterpolo are perhaps the most recognisable name on Worcester...
2. British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? British Sea Power have been one of the UK’s best...
3. Fear Of Music - First To Go A good rule of thumb as to whether a person...
4. Stopmotion Men - Music VS Film A collection of mini epics make up this debut EP...
5. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Town Topic EP They say write about what you know, and Owen Ashworth...