(3-track single)
Still Life have moved on.
The first time I heard this Hull-based 5-piece band in 2000 I was compelled by their indie-rocking ear for sublime melodies en masse, as heard on their 'Suicide Bridge' single and album that featured one of the beautiful b-sides here - 'Lost All Feeling.'
The sound of Still Life circa 2003 is as overwhelmingly vibrant and as exciting as can be, with Paul Terry manipulating his gruffly soulful Yorkshire voice to a hugely original extent through the outright rock theatrics of 'Murder By Proxy.' Hell, there's something about their sound that reminds them of The Cooper Temple Clause in their most soulful moments of genius, Terry sincerely lamenting 'I don't enjoy - I just endure.'
Onwards into 'Music In My Head,' this music of theirs will get into yours as coolly as a crook gets into trouble, the wicked rock guitar riff leading some fantastic instrumental interplay. The fact that there are two guitarists - Andy Clark and Mike Richmond - means their sound is perfectly fleshed out, and further so by drummer Phil Bean� and bassist James, who also sings with Paul.
Of all the frankly astounding bands in Hull, Still Life are one of the few bands in the city writing songs that genuinely could shake up the Top 40 and shift factories full of copies. Still Life, to all intents and purposes, might just be THE band to get the indie-rock genre full-stop back on its feet, as the remastered version of 'Lost All Feeling' (that's been knocking around a few years) jacks your mouth open and leaves it gaping for ever more, such is this subtle anthem's epic, high-scaling and seriously heartfelt nature. Somewhat in the spirit of Longview's true love-obsessed musings, Still Life's outstanding musicianship and soaraway levels of quality songwriting is the perfect antidote to the high number of willfully quirky and Alt.-rock experimentalists that are perhaps trying to too hard to re-establish Hull as a hub-bub of essential music. The Beautiful South are one of the most respected and successful bands to surge out of the city, and Still Life share much of their knack for tune writing and charming demeanour, singing about life and love without ego or flippant pomp - which is always an admirable trait.
5/5 Steve Rudd
www.stilllifeonline.com
E-mail� [email protected]