Less than Me - Crawl Walk Party

These guys are yet another up and coming band from the West country - a five piece who each can boast an impressive set of tasks within the band. There is some Piano, some Programming, Keyboard, and even Electronic Drums! I wonder at what kind of concoction I'll be looking at but from the first song, I'm made aware that these people know what they're doing.

By following the best idea in life - everything in moderation - the first song is an unqualified success. 'Turn to Dust' gives you an introduction into the excellent warbling of Martin Crocker, with slight backing by lead guitarist Shay Hunn, and with some excellently executed hooks the song is one that will remain in my head long after I flip tracks.

The band claim a list of influences that is so wide and disconnected that I start each song with trepidation, unaware of what I might get. 'Camera Shy' is another excellently upbeat, quite groovy track that makes full use of Crockers distinctive vocal sounds.. I feel there is room in the mainstream for a band like this. Their sound is very fresh and marketable! I look for a song that might be a bit more low-key and find 'Without You'. Hoping for a power ballad or something, I find instead a song that captures the essence of dissatisfaction while keeping a pacey beat and an very easily listenable sound. For the last time now I will make reference to the power of the vocalist - Crocker's volume is a lot louder against the instruments then a lot of other bands and it gives it a slightly poppy feel but take nothing away - you will want to listen to this song and this band. I try to find something a bit funkier and in 'We Tried To Give It Up', I find a completely new sound as an introduction.

A mixture of the aforementioned electric drums and keyboards combine in this song to produce a completely fresh sound. Crocker makes sure the track is still distinguishable as a Less Than Me song but everything else is so different it's astounding. Give the track a listen for a much more psychedelic sound. The last track of the album also catches my eye because it seems so self-defamatory - 'I'm Over Our Sound Already' closes the album off and it's a return to form with an upbeat, karate kicking funk of a song. Their website and their shows and their album - all things you should now be concerned about.

The album, unfortunately, will take another two and a half months (at the time of writing) to reach the mainstream - I hope that this band find it in them to give people a taste of what they've made as a nibble leaves you dribbling and salivating for more. This band have produced an excellent sound which future producers will find easily marketable in the near future.

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