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Deckard - Dreams Of Dynamite And Divinity (Deckard)
UK release date: 24 May 2004
Deckard - Dreams Of Dynamite And Divinity

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track listing

1. To Your Soul
2. We're Aching
3. When Picking Fights
4. Be Nobody Else
5. Holy Rolling 6. Say Something Stupid
7. Fall Down At Their Feet
8. Wired For This
9. Grace's Estate
10. I Dream Of Dynamite
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It's a shame that bands who don't swear for the sake of it, who don't put on masks and make-up and whose music isn't featured on big brand TV adverts get overlooked and completely miss out on their 15 minutes in the spotlight. They might not be in the "revolutionary original" box, but this doesn't mean Deckard don't deserve their fair shot at the limelight.

Instantly reminiscent of a Queens Of The Stone Age cover band jamming with Muse as the guy from Deus joins in on vocals occasionally, Deckard are defiantly pitched midway between the indie and rock camps, although this ain't necessarily a bad thing.

Hailing from Scotland, the foursome produce a happy enough brand of rock, and can certainly pull out some gr-ooooo-vy riffs when they want to, as When Picking Fights highlights, with an open chorded intro descending into an almost Rasmus-like channel at times.

Vocals are where these guys really shine through, with three-quarters of the membership contributing their oral skills with varying levels of intensity. Be Nobody Else is a B-side from Radiohead's The Bends, re-written for 2004 - maybe not quite as brooding, but the falsetto vocals and melancholic subject matter shine through loud and clear. Unfortunately however, the big build-up chorus is far too repetitive and lacks the angst that early Thom Yorke and crew managed to pull off.

Praising of their vocal abilities aside, the vocal production leaves a lot to be desired - all the effects are there, and far too often. This speaks to me of two things: either a trigger happy knob-twiddler behind the desk, or a lack of raw talent that needs disguising. I am reluctant to think it is the latter, because when the barrage of effects are taken off, Chris Gordon's "natural" wail is certainly far from weak. Just a note then lads - if you make it big, contain the excitement of what sound effects can do, or else learn how to use 'em properly!

Fall Down at Their Feet is firmly back in Radiohead territory (granted a cursed comparison, but true nevertheless). Again, the style of the kings of indie obscurity is present, but the material is lacking somewhat.

If you are a fan of the Foo Fighters or Muse, love Queens Of The Stone Age but don't have a clue what stoner is, and used to wail along with Thom Yorke in your early teens, then this will be a worthwhile amalgamation investment for you. I'm sure it all kicks off live too.


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