The Gambler EP is an interesting name for this effort from Leicester quartet Glitch. This is because they take not a single gamble throughout the three songs on display here. Instead they walk down a path that is so well trodden it could pass for a canyon.
It all begins with ‘Land Awkwardly’, a very chirpy, upbeat number that sounds a lot like The Ataris, except for the end which sounds a lot like Jimmy Eat World. The lads can play their instruments very well considering their average age is 18, but what’s required is a need to engage their imagination and not just their limbs. It’s great that they can play just like their favourite bands, but it’s not going to matter if they can’t sound like their own band.
Another problem, that reveals itself prominently on second track ‘Simply Beautiful’, is that the vocals are poor. Words are more tunefully said than actually sung, which might work in some bands but not in the melodic, poppy surroundings these guys place themselves in. The lyrics seem crammed and awkwardly fitted to the music, and so the sound lacks the fluidity it needs.
Efforts are made to keep us interested; spiky chords in the style of Thursday emerge here and there, but they don’t seem to be able to resolve themselves as a decent riff and thus fall flat. The final nail in the coffin is the production; the guitars are often too quiet and are drowned out by the vocals meaning subtle qualities the songs could potentially have are lost. The bottom line is that music like this is never going to make an impression because it has been done better already many, many times. Glitch need to take pride in their ability and re-create themselves.
Sugar Shack Records
Alex
