There are some great bands knocking about the UK right now and this is a perfect example of one of them. One of Deck Cheese’s latest additions, southern skacore hopefuls No Comply have quite literally burst onto the scene with this record, ‘Your Life Is Your Direction’, their first commercially-available release. And to be honest it’s a superb blast of melody, horns and energy – and shows that the UK scene has a new star in the making.
The best way to describe No Comply would be to compare them to the likes of Capdown brawling with Save Ferris – they’re too melodic to be tagged hardcore and too harsh to be described as ska. But in vocalist Kelly Kemp they do have the chance at being able to crack the big time. With a voice as good as any in the genre, she can switch from Mo Powell style singing, to the devilish of screeches in one swift movement and this is best shown on the opening track ‘Your Life (is your direction)’. The track opens with trumpets and trombones bursting from all corners, but Kelly launches herself headlong into the first verse. The chorus is as good as anything Capdown have come up with, and lyrically the band nods at a social and political edge, without going down the preaching route that so many try and spectacularly fail. The track also benefits from avoiding the typical verse-chorus-verse structure, making it infinitely more interesting.
The powerful ‘Decide’ also emphasises Kelly’s vocal talent and with Jon Dailey’s guitars seemingly turned up a notch, the sound is again spot on. Once again the variation in rhythms adds a little extra something and the use of the brass is not over-used. ‘Misuse Of Control’ is arguably the best song here, with a harsh bass and guitar line, and really powerful vocals that will have you singing along before its end. ‘Rejected‘ opens a little like the Dance Hall Crashers on crack, but faster, harder and sassier. The drums are exemplorary and the guitars dirty sounding, making the bittersweet vocals sound all the better. ‘Falling From Cresses’ is another great track with plenty of energy and Lightyear-esque use of horns. Again Kelly’s distinctive vocals really make the song, but the driving chorus is sure to make this a live favourite. Closing effort ‘Background Action’ is much more ska based and the only time the band genuinely sound like DHC or Save Ferris. But even then you sense that there’s a demon waiting to break out and smash through your speakers.
No Comply aren’t the finished article by any means, and having just set off on a tour of the UK toilets, it’s up to them to build the fanbase that they deserve. But with more interest in the UK scene, and bands on the ‘underground’ UK punk labels, No Comply are certainly original and interesting enough to make an impact. And having their secret weapon as a vocalist is certainly going to turn the heads of some of the less knowledgeable reviewers who will no doubt take one look at the promo pic and dismiss the band as a Gwen Stefani covers band. But this isn’t the case at all, infact write off No Comply at your peril because I’m very sure that we will be hearing a lot more from this lot in the very near future. Certainly not the perfect debut, but it would be rude not to comply…
Paul