The Vals - Sticks And Stones

Published Monday 5th October 2009
The Vals - Sticks And Stones
The Vals - Sticks And Stones

STYLE: Pop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 82660-15720
LABEL: Electrique Mud
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Anthony Longville

This is the debut album release on a German-based label from the mainstream Belfast band. The band have been attracting airplay interest both from Radios 1 and 2 and have gained approval from none less than Yoko Ono for their involvement in peace promoting music events. This final point is more than appropriate as it is impossible to listen to this album without hearing echoes of the Fab Four, initially through the Lennony lead vocals, but often in the musical arrangements. For the most part it's irresistible guitar-driven groovy pop rock to set toes tapping, although there is a change of tack on the piano-led first single "Yesterday Today" which is very much in the Beatles mode. In addition on a few of the numbers the sound is augmented by horns as on "Light Shine Down". Musically and in the album artwork there's a psychedelic sound and look. The clever art work uses scrabble letters for titles and track list. Can't believe they achieved all that without a high scoring Q X or Z! Still that aside the band have certainly shown a strong hand with an excellent first release.

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