Winchester seems to be picking up in terms of hot new bands. Second Monday are leading the way, now Chaser look set to take them on. With The Killers-esque synth on top of a gorgeous melodic rock backdrop, Chaser mix My Awesome Compilation and The Get Up Kids with something sparkling, creating a superb concoction which may be cliched in terms of what many bands are attempting to do right now, but Chaser do it better than the vast majority. How they’ve managed to keep off everyone’s radar so far is a mystery, but if they put in some hard graft over the next six months it’s unlikely they’ll be a secret much longer.
The three proper songs on this CD (one is instrumental) are fantastic. The opening song (I don’t have a tracklisting with names) has a fantastic clean keyboard riff that tinkers and swirls around a fantastic melodic vocal – a trait which Chaser have pretty much nailed despite their comparitively young ages. The second track uses more synth than keys, but again showcases the bands talent for being able to create interesting sounds and catchy riffs. The third track is arguably my favourite – Callum Hayes’ vocals really stand out, while the music is a cut above a lot of the bands who try and do this kind of sound. It goes on for over four minutes, but the song’s a delight, much like this band. The final song on this EP keeps up the high-standards, with swirling programming eminating from the keys and another standout chorus. They may only be youngsters, but if Chaser want to make a name for themselves, all they need to do is start playing regularly. After that, the fans and plaudits will follow…
www,myspace.com/chaseruk
Paul