It’s taken me a while to get round to reviewing this, and my thoughts now are that most of the people who are reading this via-Punktastic, will already have this CD and will be loving the little 7 track E.P, but at least by reviewing it I’m guaranteed to get myself on Punktastic Recordings press release…
So if you haven’t come across The Maple State yet, where the hell have you been? Bring on Greg, Christian, Will and John. These four boys sprang up from the back streets of Manchester developing quicker than the mid nineties Manchester United first team squad, and suddenly are the talk of the U.K music scene. Dressing like 1970’s Farmers, complete with tight Levi’s, cow boy shirts and side partings, they mix up some of the best indie – emo combo bands such as The Early November and Something Corporate, adding the pop ditties of Fallout Boy and Melee, whilst throwing in their own twists. “At Least Until We’ve Settled In†is a catchy, feel good pop – rock record. When stripped down, it’s basic as bones, but the way TMS deliver it, in their own special way, is what makes their music so good. It’s not complex or produced to surprise you; it’s just straight up and down, simple talking music, from start to finish. Take opening track, “You Can’t Put Two Hotels On Mayfair†– it plays through with an attractive rhythm, and an excellent vocal combo with plenty of harmonies, you can’t help but allow yourself to be drawn in by the melodies of the song.
By the time you’ve made your way through to “Mightiest Monster Mightiest Melodrama Of Them All,†and “The Fall Of Shi Gau Rui†and their respective infectious choruses, The Maple State are well on the road to firmly winning you over. Try listening this far and then going out of the room to make a drink or take a walk to the shop, you’ll still be hearing the beauty of this record ringing in your ears, on dwelling on the end of your tongue. There are not many artists in the UK producing the same sort of music as The Maple State, and if there was, there wouldn’t be as many as good as this. Fact.
Pete Punktastic
www.themaplestate.co.uk