Linking lyrical prowess and imagination with its musical rock equivalent, C Wired drew potent plaudits with eclectic debut EP, Omega, and recently repeated and out shone its adventure with successor Angel Circuit Engaged. Offering six slices of rock ‘n’ roll woven from an array of rock ‘n’ roll flavours, it is an encounter which has proven rather magnetic.
C Wired is Chuck Whyard, a singer-songwriter adept at casting potent imagery in word as in a sound embracing everything from alternative and indie rock to country and blues flavoured rock ‘n’ roll. It makes for a diverse mix and songs as proven on Omega early last year which are as individual as they are united in the C Wired touch. Since that well-received debut, Whyard has pulled in and established a hard rocking band to hit the live scene and bolster an already adventurous sound, Angel Circuit Engaged seeing the craft of guitarist/moog synthesist Addison Smith, bassist Andrew Renner, keyboardist Wil Houchens, and drummer Daniel Kelly alongside its frontman.
Angel Circuit Engaged opens up with its title track and swiftly offers up a multi-scented breeding, grooves and rhythms uniting to impose temptation. Whyard’s vocals are just as alluring as too the warm flirtatious lure of the keys, each matching the instinctive liveliness of a song just as eager in its calmer repose. Inviting from the off and more rousing with each play, and featuring Sol Philcox-Littlefield on guitar, it makes for a highly enjoyable opener.
Its success is followed by Botticelli Baby, it too making a richly enticing intrigue loaded entrance before slipping into its unpredictable stroll. As rhythms pounce and bounce, sultry streams of guitar light up the song’s suggestive body, surf rock hues adding to its already colourful fuel of styles. The track did not quite hit the spot overall as its predecessor but has moments of delicious rock ‘n’ roll in its bait and nothing less than keen imagination in its twists.
There is a great fire in the belly of next up Climb The Mountain, a fevered volatility which may not truly erupt but gives an already strong track greater drama and texture to create the EP’s best moment before Persian Woman rivals its success with a web of styles and tapestry of melodic enterprise from the ever enticing keys and inventive guitar, again provided by Philcox-Littlefield. Bolder by the moment, the song captivated with ease with Angels Are Not Afraid of the Dark sharing its own melodic and lyrical intimation soon after, both an authoritative tempting throughout the release. Another slow burner in comparison to others it effortlessly left ears richly satisfied.
The EP closes up with the excellent Little Sisters, a rocking stomping slice of rock ‘n’ roll with a penchant for pop revelry. It was a conclusion which the body effortlessly bounced to and appetite indulged in especially its fifties nurtured dynamics and mischief.
Produced by Addison Smith, Angel Circuit Engaged is our first taste of C Wired and sure not to be the last as it was rather easy to find a rather contented appetite for their sound; something we can be sure we will not be alone in.
Angel Circuit Engaged is out now across most stores.
https://www.facebook.com/cwiredband/
Pete RingMaster 02/04/2019
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
From one outstanding track to another as latest single Metanoia grips the imagination next. An irresistible blend of indie pop and melodic rock, the track bounces in with a bold and catchy gait but one which only builds greater manipulation of body and appetite when it unleashed a blazing romp of a chorus that is something akin to T-Rex meets The Wildhearts. Again hooks and grooves entangle to tempt and enslave as vocals add their own thick persuasion to another of the album’s finest moments.
From a scuzzy wind This is Bliss springs an indie meets garage punk incitement which had the body rocking with swift submission, Gravves tempering its punk causticity and elevating their cunning imagination for virulent hooks and invasive swings. Like a mix of the St Pierre Snake Invasion and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, the track quickly had juices running as too did successor Sinister Surf. Emulating its title in flavour and noir lit breath, the track simply haunts as it prowls the senses, seducing and invading with sublime ease and touch even as its tantalising grooves erupt with caustic emotion and intensity.
Dig Tree comes next, the track a bewitching slice of punk pop initially, nostalgically recalling bands such as The Chefs and 4 Non Blondes. It floats across the senses but has a sonic causticity which just adds to the song’s bait again headed by Grimm’s engagingly manipulative presence. Whilst adding a new hue to the album broadening adventure, the song has feet and hips involved just as easily as rock ‘n’ roll instincts.
New single Beast of our Babylon brings a more sombre breeze to the adventure but with no less captivation and pleasure involved. It is a folk nurtured ballad with melancholic strings and acoustic elegance round the emotive tones of Montyro which just thickens and captivates second by second, maybe missing the mischief of other encounters within the album but rich in creative beauty to spark just as much pleasure.
Creating a sound which by design or chance embraces the essences of classic bands like Scars and Josef K as well as British outfits like The Libertines and Skellums, Edinburgh hailing Indigo Sixteen emerged in 2013. Leaning on inspirations ranging from Kasabian, The Smiths, and Joy Division to The Jam, Daft Punk, Kraftwerk, and Nirvana, Indigo Sixteen previously released the singles Decide (2014), And What? (2014/15), and Come and Go (2016). Now it is Bring on the Rain ready to stir greater attention the way of the quartet and as it plays in the ears it is hard to imagine it not rousing up a host of new fans.
Through the smouldering but lively heat and angst of Goldmine and the rousing rock ‘n’ roll of Armour the hold on ears and imagination is only tightened, the first a consumption of sound and enterprise which haunts long after its fiercely pleasing presence and the second a slice of alternative cored rock which prowls and almost menaces as electronic and melodic spicing explore its rapacious climate. Both tracks push the band’s creative boundaries and the already lofty heights of the album though they are still eclipsed by the vivacious and lively antics of Atlas. Magnetic from the off, addictive soon after, the track is a kaleidoscope of sound and adventure which becomes more contagious and seductive melody by melody, twist by twist.