Antico are a four-piece from Stratford-upon-Avon and this self-released four track EP is their first ever recording. I could be cruel and just state that these guys sound like every other school band up and down the country, but I'll try and be fair and balanced and pick out some good and bad points that my ears picked up over the course of listening to this CD.
We'll start off wth the positives - and it's clear from the off that these guys can play. The song structures are reasonable and the production is also better than average, especially for a first release. Vocalist Will Robinson has a reasonably unique, lazy singing style, which will probably split many people down the middle. Personally, I don't find it too bad. The drums, first song aside, are pretty solid too. So, a few plus points. However, the negatives outweigh the positives by quite some way. There's a real lack of urgency - this is a record that plods along at midpace throughout. There are no build-ups, nothing that soars or dips down, nothing to create any excitement. The guitar tone sounds very similar and the lack of a second guitar leaves the sound feeling pretty flat. The song structures are also a little basic - they do everything right, don't get me wrong, but playing it by the rulebook doesn't make you good.
Antico are on the right lines, after all they're only 16, but there's still some way to go if they want to be in a position to play regularly. The band need to forge their own sound, really add some urgency and emotion and work on their instruments - make them passionate, make them sound like you mean what you're doing. At the minute it's all a bit...meh.
antico_music@hotmail.com
Paul
