Post by thesoundmonitor on Oct 21, 2003 21:38:23 GMT -5
EPICURE
Life Sentence
(MGM Distribution)
By Warren Wheeler
For an otherwise young band, these five friendly folk from smalltown Ballarat (Australia) have an extensive and impressive discography. Their latest EP, though looks like it may bring the breakthrough they’re after, which will be followed by a new full length early ’04.
Listening to Epicure conjures images of laid-back, sunny afternoons on the porch with an alcoholic beverage in one hand, and harmonica in the other. It’s a Southern-tainted blues/folk that leaves one mesmerized as to why they remain independent - unless of course that is their intention.
Recalling the ghosts of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Epicure also nod admiringly to quasi-grunge acts like Blind Melon, Soul Asylum, and Toad The Wet Sprocket, as well as Alice In Chains’ Jar of Flies masterpiece, and Layne Staley’s Mad Season.
The tunes waft gently in the breeze, with Juan Alban’s vocals displaying maturity akin to Jeff Buckley while the acoustic reveries build with anticipation and release with satisfaction.
The EP includes ‘Armies Against Me’ which received substantial airplay back in 2002, and is perhaps the most upbeat of the five tracks - nevertheless it still takes a laidback approach, with it’s slide guitar and tonal appreciation.
If this precursor is an accurate indication of things to come, then Australia - and possibly the world - is in for an organic treat come February.
Life Sentence
(MGM Distribution)
By Warren Wheeler
For an otherwise young band, these five friendly folk from smalltown Ballarat (Australia) have an extensive and impressive discography. Their latest EP, though looks like it may bring the breakthrough they’re after, which will be followed by a new full length early ’04.
Listening to Epicure conjures images of laid-back, sunny afternoons on the porch with an alcoholic beverage in one hand, and harmonica in the other. It’s a Southern-tainted blues/folk that leaves one mesmerized as to why they remain independent - unless of course that is their intention.
Recalling the ghosts of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Epicure also nod admiringly to quasi-grunge acts like Blind Melon, Soul Asylum, and Toad The Wet Sprocket, as well as Alice In Chains’ Jar of Flies masterpiece, and Layne Staley’s Mad Season.
The tunes waft gently in the breeze, with Juan Alban’s vocals displaying maturity akin to Jeff Buckley while the acoustic reveries build with anticipation and release with satisfaction.
The EP includes ‘Armies Against Me’ which received substantial airplay back in 2002, and is perhaps the most upbeat of the five tracks - nevertheless it still takes a laidback approach, with it’s slide guitar and tonal appreciation.
If this precursor is an accurate indication of things to come, then Australia - and possibly the world - is in for an organic treat come February.