The Tuesday Syndicate - The Tuesday Syndicate EP
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| The Tuesday Syndicate EP |
Release Date: Out Now
It won't surprise you to hear
that this bunch of handsome, buff and generally fit looking chaps hail from
North Devon and all enjoy a spot of surfing when they're not making music
together. It also won't surprise you to hear that I think The Tuesday Syndicate
is an awful, awful band name but I'm not here to review band names, I'm here to
review the music so let's just move past this shall we? This latest EP from the
five piece weighs in at a meaty 7 tracks which is in that territory between EP
and album but I think EP is the right choice. Opening track 'Bury My Mind' begins
with a sleepy, sunrise inspired piece of acoustic noodling that transports you
to a field atop a cliff staring out at glistening sea below you. The smooth
voice of frontman Sam Mayo encourages the rest of the band to join in and a
Radio 2 friendly folk-rock ballad unfolds but not without a certain edge and
bite that suggests there is more to come from the quintet. 'Come Inside' has a
similarly gentle and subdued beginning but there is less time to wait for the
rest of the band to kick in this time and there is a real Brother & Bones
vibe about this tune but with a more US radio feel.
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| The Tuesday Syndicate in their natural habitat |
There is an impish start to 'Go'
which veers more towards the Mumford & Sons or Passenger end of the
spectrum with an urgent riff, impassioned vocals and a thumping beat that
pulses at the heart of the song as it builds to a crowd pleasing crescendo. By
the time we reach 'Palm Of My Hand' there is a pattern forming of quiet
acoustic openings that give way to full band shenanigans but there is more
energy to be found here and more bitterness as the band power through a tale of
heartbreak and the realisation that whatever relationship there was has long
since died. Just to prove me wrong, 'Sticks & Stones' cracks straight on
with things and has a more Elvis Costello meets Frank Turner feel about it
which is hard to resist as the guitars cut through the air like a call to arms.
Presumably a song about a well, 'Too Deep To Climb Out' returns to the previous
formula but then if it ain't broke (and it ain't), don't fix it. Again, this is
a US friendly power ballad that, combined with their looks, should see these
guys playing to crowds of knickerless girls all summer (because they've thrown
them on the stage, not because they're forgetful or can't afford knickers, you understand).
Closing track 'Worth It' is possibly the most powerful of the lot and, in my
opinion, ought to be the lead track - which it could well be as Dropbox tends
to do funny things to track listings. It combines Paolo Nutini, Brother &
Bones, Crowns and Frank Turner to make an almighty rock racket with a folk
spirit and a soulful heart. If this were a half hour set I would be left
feeling impressed but with a niggling feeling that the band could have given
slightly more energy to some of the songs to get those beach parties going. There's
still more to come, I feel, but they are definitely heading in the right
direction.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/thetuesdaysyndicateofficial
Listen Here: http://www.thetuesdaysyndicate.com/#!home/mainPage
Live Dates:
11th July - Glasdenbury Festival, Ashburton
12st July - Esplanade, Newquay
17th July - The Old Firehouse, Exeter
24th July - Somersault Festival, North Devon
31st July - Folk Off Cancer, Barnstaple
1st August - The Red Lion, Clovelly
8th August - Croyde View Festival, Croyde