Fireworks For Summer,
ScuttleScuttle are yet another band to come off the ever-growing Brighton conveyor belt. Once a sleepy seaside town better known for its rock, the music scene in the area took off when Norman 'Fatboy Slim' Cook took up his rockefeller skanking and whipped up townies across the country into a bit of a frenzy. But not content with having a load of pilled-up kids on their doorsteps, the locals have fought back with a number of fantastic live bands. One of the 'veterans' of the scene, Scuttle, are back with 'Fireworks For Summer' their third EP for Firefly Recordings.
Just five songs in length and weighing in at a shade over 12 minutes, Scuttle certainly do not outstay their welcome. Coming across like Hundred Reasons beaten to a bloody pulp with a hammer, the band have a crisp British sound which is reminiscient of some of the more popular post-hardcore bands knocking about the shop, while still claiming their own identity and clasping it closely to their collective chests.
'Fireworks For Summer' is a record that doesn't have any wish to be flashy - the musicianship is solid and professional and each song starts, does its job and ends before boredom sets in. Opener 'I Think Of Earthquakes' has a guitar riff that leans towards Hundred Reasons, before it veers off into a fantastic vocal from Steve Severa. It's kind of in the classic rock sense, right on the border of singing and screaming and also quite unique among a lot of UK bands who adopt an unneccesary US-style slant at crooning. Although the subject matter hints at the opposite sex, the words are clever enough to get even the most prized A-Level English student to have a good ponder over the lyrical content.
'June and July Exploding' crunches and batters its way through a couple of minutes, Steve's vocal again twisting and weaving itself around the guitar riffs, with the drumming solid and heavy. The fantastic 'Make A Decision And Stick To It' is a definite highlight, with the vocals coming across strongly. There's also the most singalong moment of the whole EP here as well for all you pop kids. 'Subject Matter Closed' is the closest Scuttle come to losing their British sound, following closely to a line that our American cousins have taken many a time. The riffs seem a little used and the vocals aren't quite as desperate as you might hope. Or maybe that's the point and I'm missing something...just with a line such as "if i could turn back time, i would never make you mine" I'd expect some vitriol or anger and this doesn't come until the bitter end. Instead the anguish comes during closer 'The Science Of Distance And Travel', a song which starts off with a metal-esque riff before things mellow out temporarily. Steve's vocals pick up again midway through, screaming and spluttering as the guitars take on a more depressing tone. It's all good stuff.
So Scuttle - bright young things in a bright young scene. A full length would certainly make interesting listening, watch out for their infamous live performances when they visit a town near you.
Paul
