Swamp Love

Fancy some rock, maybe a bit of blues? Or got a fetish for southern inspired grooves? Then look no further, The Owls encompass all these genres into their second EP Swamp Love.

The Newcastle four piece, who formed in 2008, recorded the mash up EP in a tin shed where they birthed their own studio; for a shack, the production is quality, with great appreciation to well adopted left and right mixing making each ditty an anticipated item.

“Better Off Deaf”, the band’s current single is a blues rock number with brawny vocals and heavy overdrive guitar. Accompanied by promising lyrics ‘Tell me all your lies / and I’ll tell you most of mine‘, the band assures you of their authenticity.

Some of the tracks seem a bit awkward, especially track “Space Invaders”, which if you tried to clap along you would look like an uncoordinated alien.

Closing track “Comprende” offers a confusion of all sorts with a Spanish vibe, bongo drums, and plucked acoustic guitar; a track not quite fitting with the other numbers on the EP.

Joshua Bailey’s vocals sound breathy and sleazy, this may have been the objective but it’s like an old drunk hitting on girls half their age in a dingy dirty pub. Not a very attractive combination at all, and without doubt, he went home lonely.

Kudos to lead licks from guitarist Lewis Gillespie for keeping the listener enticed and craving the next bar.

With The Rubens already hitting the scene with a similar sound recently, but significantly better, it is in doubt these lads will be able to compete.

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