(6-track EP/ 2002/ �COLCHESTER RECORDINGS�)
James Scott is the mainman genius behind this �Colchester Recordings� release. He is The Party, though he is hardly the �life and soul� in the most literal sense as evidenced via his mournful vocals. Here are 6 tracks steeped in soulful emotion, and none are without their quirks. One of the first lines in the first song �Worry� confirms �I wear a belt for our protection,� his vocals and guitar set to an awesomely cool, technotronic beat of classic lo-fi proportions. He�s like a Leonard Cohen for the 22nd century, this music being hugely alternative rock.
�Don�t Think I Don�t When I Do� hears James leading his vocal talents along Morrissey-esque gangways, eccentrically admitting to someone or other �I love you� as the creepy backing tune convinces you this song is something The Stranglers should have really conceived when in their sinister prime.
His voice broods and laments. Boy this record could have been suicidally dark and oppressive, yet it�s saved by such imaginative moments - and before you know it the rock suddenly sounds more marketable, mainstream even, through �Your Beautiful Wife� when the storming guitar riff sounds like it�s been nicked from The Manic Street Preachers� proud back catalogue, the upbeat punk shots of zest ensuring this track is the highlight before I Wish I�d Said That At The Time�s steady-beating sensitivity leads into yet another deviation in musical style�
�I Have Become What I Set Out To Destroy� smacks walls with the angsty intensity of any classic song by Alt-punk heroes The Fall, James chillingly intimidating when ranting �I�m a government man.� As though we, the listeners, are now his disciples.
�Pious Ex-Smoker,� mind, treads sweeter territory (if that�s possible by this stage) as a music-box melody underpins James� vocals that now favour Lloyd Cole�s passionate mannerisms.
Strangely, James is the first to admit that this truly brilliant release is �lo-fi by necessity not design.� And that suggests the quality isn�t going to be too hot� and yet the quality of these recordings is near-flawless and you really can�t tell these songs have been recorded with a busted bass and broken drum machine. No, really � you cannot! 9/10
What�s more, James is the founder of the �Colchester Recordings� movement and is hoping to release some compilations in the future so if you are in a band or a solo artist you could do worse than send him a demo for consideration to him at 124A (the flat) OLD ROAD, CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX, CO15 3AH. Don�t say I didn�t tell you. (STEVE RUDD)
www.colchesterrecordings.com
http://thepartytheband.mysite.freeserve.com
Tel James� 07947 277837