Upon first inspection it may appear that All Below have Manuals aren’t doing anything particularly new, and admittedly it isn’t anything earth shattering. But unlike other bands in similar positions they have produced a highly accomplished, confident EP which shows a mature stature of song structure and musicianship. ‘The Twenty Hour Room’ EP gives more than a reassuring wink to many of their more experienced contemporaries from these isles including Hell is for Heroes and thisGirl while featuring a very British sound enclosed between the tingling emocore sounds. Thankfully just enough is borrowed for a comforting familiarity and just enough is the bands own to leave a distinctive mark.
The intense energy of ‘Tough Guy Wear Pink’ is a superb opener but while you may expect it to fly the flag somewhat, the high standards don’t quite continue into ‘Dancing is Murder on Your Feet’. Where as the opener displays catchy hooks, buckets of melody and has a very distinctive charm to it ‘Dancing…’ features only fleeting bursts of brilliance before falling flat on its face. Musically it can’t be faulted to much with some clever twists and turns working well, but the vocals of frontman Mark Gamble don’t quite carry the song and it falters somewhat on some of the quieter sections. Thankfully, the vocals are vastly improved on ‘Match my Words’ and are a step in the right direction with the song showing a well-crafted mature sound. ‘Room to Breathe; I Haven’t Got’ brings down the curtains with a fantastic chorus and is a fitting end to a decent quartet of tracks.
While I may have been slightly harsh on the lead vocals, it is in the bands defence that little is actually done to enhance them and must be lauded. In a day and age when as much pro tools goes into many vocalists arsenal as it does into the music, it is quite refreshing to hear a good honest voice, and maybe that is why the vocals have a certain endearing charm to them. And along with the three guitarists all doing their jobs well and the drumming keeping things tight, All Below Have Manuals have all the correct elements to go onto bigger and better things. With this being the bands first EP it is understandable that certain elements are rough around the edges but on the whole the Twenty Hour Room EP` is a solid base for the northern based outfit to work from, and if they keep working hard they may appear at a Po Na Na near you soon…
Jay
www.myspace.com/allbelowhavemanuals