'SOMA RIOT WAVE MACHINE'
During the summer of '03 The Bed wrecked havoc around the UK - with fellow Alt.-rockers I Remember Nothing - largely in promotion of this, their first single release proper. Based in London and lovers of taking the most eccentric approach to their songwriting as delectably possible, these 2 tracks are both bizarre and diverse examples of what frontman Glen and his band have to offer the underground Alt.-rock scene.
Don't ask what 'Soma Riot Wave Machine' is about, just take it from me that the panel-denting drums and lunging guitar tsunami makes for hell of a spiky and spirited sound. There's something so so exciting about this band, like when you heard revolutionary and life-changing bands like Nirvana for the first time. Glen's tantric guitar wankrics and the song's madcap structure reels you in to such an extent you may never want to leave their world once accustomed.
Yet listening to 'Time Against The Tower' you can barely believe this is the same band as Glen's vocals are much more soulful and the mood much more relaxed and intimate. Something of an Eastern-inspired melody supports Glen's nasally nuked vocal stylings that has them sounding a little like Hull's Edible 5ft Smiths or James Scott's 'Party' band. One thing is for sure, and that is Glen's voice is so compellingly original - and this band's music in general is so tangentially visionary - compared to everything else that sounds to be going down in the underground, The Bed can rest easy. And so can we�
4/5 (Steve Rudd)
www.thebed.co.uk