Chay Snowdon - Are You Sitting Comfortably? 
(Then We'll Begin)
Release Date: Out Now
This, amazingly, is the debut EP from Chay Snowdon which is staggering as it feels like he's been around for an age but I guess this enforced period of inactivity has given him time to record and package things up instead of playing raucous gigs and flouncing around in garish shirts. The instructional 'Intro' sounds like Barack Obama speaking over the Devonport siren test and making sure we're all paying attention before the first track proper crashes in to view. 'What Kids Want' is a sharp slap around the face drenched in 80s garage rock influences with the spirit of Billy Idol looming large as Snowdon's vocal snarl and the punchy melody grab you by the collar and demand your attention. What better way to start an EP?
The energy is sustained on 'Tough Guys Die First', an anthem to male sensitivity and the kind of track that deserves to be screamed back at the band by a bouncing crowd of adoring fans. 'Loud Shirts' finds the band channeling their inner-Arctic Monkeys (first album) with throbbing bass lines, tales of messy romance and a focus on the details of life ("It's like a scene out of Project X, the Karma Sutra never had this much context"). On 'Men Cry Too!', there is a slight slowing of pace as the Kings of Leon style rock anthem is played with all the tension and emotion of a band speaking their truth and the truth of so many others caught in the headlights of male toxicity.
The final track, 'Cash Only', is another piece of story telling that highlights the seedier side of love and life before 'Outro' yet again seemingly features the former leader of the free world signing off on behalf of the band (maybe this is his new gig via Cameo?). Needless to say, this is an excellent collection of songs and suggests that an album can't be far away as long as there are stories to tell, shirts to wear and crowds to whip in to a frenzy with the sounds of rock and roll.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/chaysnowdonmusic
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