(5-track EP/ DECK CHEESE RECORDS)
This Southampton crew have already supported Good Charlotte, yet Not Katies' take on melodic punk rock heavily veers into an 'Emo' fa�ade for cool measure, with Rich Watkin sharing vocals with Neil Kennedy.
To further provide evidence of their talents, already they've had the all-empowering support needed to proudly see through the release of their debut album - 'At Every Turn' - to widespread acclaim, and these five EP songs are the freshest helping of Not Katies' hard and high-kicking brand of music.
EP-opener 'Fingers On The Ledge' is a perfect piece of runaway Emo-rock, while 'Strike It, Reverse It' hits out with the best example of a sublimely uplifting yet intensely riffed chorus if ever there was one to get you on your feet and jumping for joy to.
'From Far Away' hears them at their most ominously poetic, as they admit that 'Stars shine much brighter from far away,' though this EP's highlight has to be the breathtakingly exquisite acoustic-based number, 'Saccharine Sweet': a beautifully touching song that couldn't be more bittersweet if Scrooge spectacularly choked on a sugarcube.
Holding up the Not Katies fold, Ewan Gibson busts his guts for only the best bass grooves, while Luke Heffer gives his drums a good old bashing and Dave Smith makes the most of his guitar-playing and backing vocal-sharing duties.
As fantastic and rocking as this release is, I couldn't imagine a more apt title than 'Repeat, Repeat.' So, for their sake, take heed.
(Steve Rudd)
Release Date: February 23rd 2004