GIGANTIC

Reviewed by  the very cool Dave Chislett  ( above) who is a journalist, music promoter , 5 FM and SA FM correspondent and columnist for The Mail and Guardian, FHM, Stage Magazine and SL magazine". On top of this he has had 3 books published ( click above to see details ) and of course he is now the brand new resident reviewer for Matchbox Recordings. Go Chislett and all the Gigantic artists. ( Additional band descriptions by Matchbox A&R). 

The Dallas Explosion ( Where's J.R ? - Ed ) 

The Dallas Explosion – She’s A Heater

This is what you want from a band –indefinability. The sound is a monster, but I reckon you’d drive yourself mad trying to track the influences down across a spectrum of mad crazy love for all things pop. Suffice to say The Dallas Explosion is probably as close as one is likely to get to the real thing. No pretensions, or is that plenty of pretensions, and a seriously well crafted song that changes tone and feel so often you might be mistaken for thinking you were listening to more than one song. But it works. Somehow. http://www.thedallasexplosion.com  ( Jon Spenser-esq Dark Bluesy Indie rock - Matchbox A&R). 

Playing Nervous – Beautiful Face

Some serious electro pop sensibilities from the eighties crash headlong into modern dance trends on this gentle, steamrolling song. You may not have thought it was possible, but here’s proof that someone can do it better than Kylie Minogue. Playing Nervous have already pretty much made a name for themselves thanks to some handy TV exposure, but if you haven’t encountered them before, best you do it here and now so you can say so when they are huge. www.marcsylvanmusic.co.uk . ( 80's esq electro pop over classic and catchy songs with a darkwave twist - Matchbox A&R). Check out http://www.playingnervous.com 

Fuzzykane live in action above 

Fuzzykane – Baby’s on My Frequency

Fuzzy Kan hail from England, but their bright, sunshiny songs are an instant cure for a gray day in the winter. Featuring light and jangly acoustic guitars as a bed to some delicate female vocal harmonies, “Baby’s on My Frequency” is a gentle little love song that will stick on your head for days to come. Delivered with finesse and conviction, but showing every sign of having been carefully constructed “Baby” is the ultimate antidote for the Pop Stars generation – a real pop song. The band are Carrie Harrison ( lead vocals) , Rebecca Harrison ( harmonies/tambourine) , Ben Bensen ( guitar/vocals) , Francis Armstrong (guitar/vocals/bass), Rob Coates (drums) and Mark Goodwin ( keyboards/loops).  ( Female fronted Indie pop with  beautiful vocals and a dreamy and hip production - Matchbox A&R)

Belgium's Hot and super fantastic SUPERBOX above. 

Superbox – Teachers Daughter

This Belgian outfit would not be out of place alongside any number of British pop acts, combining melodic guitars with bittersweet vocals and plenty of hooks. In their new incarnation, Superbox are staying true to their roots of American based guitar pop and creating an infectious and catchy series of songs. www.superbox.be . ( Lemonheads-esq melodic and addictive flowery Indie rock - Matchbox A&R). 

The Absentee – Reverie

This American outfit is producing a brand of music subtly at odds with the current American rock scene. Reverie is exactly what it says – a melancholic, drifting song that brings to mind those distracted moments of navel gazing while you mind does who knows what behind your eyes. Perhaps most influenced by early REM recordings, The Absentee may well just be the real deal. ( Dreamy Indie rock with a Coldplay meets Radiohead playing alt.country feel, lovely - Matchbox A&R). 

Tin Can Rockets – Lately

English outfit Tin Can Rockets brings a kind of spaced out feel to their music that explains their name. Their stripped and sparse sound is reminiscent of Bowie’s Space oddity without sounding at all like it. The guitars and clean and mean, but never dominate, and vocalist Matthew’s voice floats effortlessly over it all. Definitely an approach, which we hope, will bring many more songs as strong as this one. http://www.tin-canrockets.com. ( Powerful songwriting, melodic, classic and catchy - Matchbox A&R) 

The SCCC ( The Seal Cub Clubbing Club) – Chase Scene

A mad country romp of a tune, complete with Cramps-esque crazy vocals. The Violent Femmes did a bit of this, but the SCCC is way more blatant about the piss taking aspect. Sounding sometimes like a young David Byrne, the SCC’s vocalist manages to do some pretty interesting things with his vocal chords. Even if you hate country this one will have you finger tapping and dancing Dixie before you know it. So watch out! ( The Coral on holiday with The Talking Heads but in a wonderful world of it's own, simply superb alt Indie country - Matchbox A&R). www.thesccc.co.uk 

Reveal – I Hope You Know

Purportedly made up of the cream of the Manchester music scene, Reveal certainly bring power and energy to their music. I Hope You Know is a powerful song, driven relentlessly forward by a compulsive bassline and solid drum groove. With great orchestration, it never does too much of anything, and is one of those tracks you can expect to hear drifting over the airwaves before too long. This is more rock than pop, but no less accessible for all that. http://www.revealonline.co.uk. ( Smith's esq Indie rock with catchy vocals and meandering guitar hooks, very good - Matchbox A&R) 

The powerful, sonic and thick, fast and hard rock band HEADROOM above 

Headroom – Walk Away

These guys pack a mean punch. With great, raw upfront vocals and some driving guitar work combining into a power pop song of awesome dimensions. Like Bush before them, these guys are more likely to inspire interest from Rock fans, but they are doing way more than playing one-dimensional rock grunters. With plenty of experience and interest, you can expect to see and hear more from this London based band. So you better make some headroom to fit them in. www.headroomonline.com. ( Powerful, anthemic and sticks in your head with sonic might - Matchbox A&R). 

The Waheys – I’m In Loathe

Some serious punk heritage is packed away in to this little number – even the title speaks of ’77, the pistols and their contemporaries. Overdriven guitars compete with driving drums in a fast-paced track while the vocalist shouts out his message. He may be in Loathe, but that’s the way he likes it. And while there is all this punk simplicity going on, there are definite orchestration and tempo changes that relieve any potential boredom. ( Noisy, leftfield, Hip as hell, furious and heading for cult status - Matchbox A&R). 

No Fly Zone – Get Plugged in

There are a couple of unexpected things about No Fly Zone. The first is that they have already release an indie EP; the other is that they are actually from Sicily. Showcasing a pretty laid back style of guitar pop, Get Plugged In is one of those songs that chugs away with a deceptively lazy rhythm, but never loses momentum for a second. The lyrics are also not your common or garden pop song sentiments, so have a good listen to those as well. http://www.no-flyzone.com/. ( Bouncy, powerful Indie rock with a distinctive and original sound, melodic and mighty at the same time - Matchbox A&R). 

Zan Zeiro – Dirty Place

This skipping, jumping ditty comes out at pace, but with clever rhythm changes, turns into a classic pop tune, with some ethereal moments in-between the crashing chorus. A great stop-go type number, reminiscent of the way the Pixies used to do exactly that. However, the sound these guys have got is more guitar, less crazy vocals, and it works. Dirty place is fast and furious song with great texture and feel. An ideal wake-up tune when you know you have the day off and no one else does. ( Dirty, catchy, Garagey, witty, gritty and passionate powerful rock  - Matchbox A&R). 

The Holloh  - Realise

Someone from the Holloh stole Metalica’s guitar rig. What must really be upsetting Metalica though is that he’s putting it to a new, perversely appropriate use. The metal-based rifforama that carries on throughout this song is nicely set off by the fact that nothing else that happens really sounds metal. Its almost as if some metal fans came together to form a metal band, and despite themselves came up with something else entirely. Makes for some interesting listening –whether you’re a metal head or not! http://www.theholloh.co.uk. ( Anthemic, powerful and youthful Indie rock/metal from a hot and fast rising Gloucester based band - Matchbox A&R ). 

The excellent leftfield pop/rock monsters TERRA FERRA. 

Terra Ferra –Brilliant Sun

When Nick Cave was young, if hadn’t formed the Birthday party, you can kind of see him having done something like this. It’s dark and growly, but driven along at pace with some rollicking acoustic guitar and the chorus line. This is one of those songs that manages to be dark and terribly upbeat all at the same time. Terra Ferra are on to something with this sound, and we recommend that you look out for them. ( Original, different, tuneful Indie rock/pop mayhem - Matchbox A&R). 

The Coming - Give It All 

If the Jesus and Mary Chain and the Stone Roses ever got together for a jam session, you’d get something like this: Absolutely huge guitar way up front, with some dreamy, muted vocals drifting in the background. Add into that mix, a percussive, simple drum section, and you’ve got The Coming. This is the kind of music that inspires cult followings, and if they have more of the same, I’d say they deserve it!  www.thecoming.net. ( Spacey, timless, wah wah fuelled Indie rock with a mammoth pop feel - Matchbox A&R) 

Lipreader – Rest Your Head

An infectious, unconventional sound that somehow manages to remain catchy in the manner of the best pop songs. The closest thing you could compare this outfit from the North of England to is Gomez without the Mexican obsession. Rest your head manages to somehow remain delicate, with beautiful open spaces in the orchestration while still driving you along with the rhythm. Brothers Chris and Rich Hornsby have come up with a winner this time round we think. ( Jazzy Police-esq sensible and well crafted guitar pop from these heroes of the North, Champion - Matchbox A&R) 

Kathy September – Guilty Roses

With a bi, keyboard driven sound up front, Kathy September weaves her throaty vocals over and under the sound. Born in Antigua, and having lived in Canada and Australia, Kathy exhibits a truly international sound. The focus is very much on her interesting, throaty voice and lyrics, but the rest of the song hardly lets her down. Influenced by anything from Ella Fitzgerald to Pearl jam, Katy has performed in any number of bands, but is finding her feet now as a solo act. Click here to go to her website now and watch the video.  ( Poppy, soulful, well produced hitbound female artist with a distinctive voice that out sings Grace Jones and Beyonce with ease - Matchbox A&R) 

Jo Suweit – New Years Eve 2000

In a change of pace we head over to Jo’s gentle piano ballad and lilting vocals. Jo has recently changed pace from journalist to singer/song writer, and this gentle melodic tune is a great flagship for his sound. Consisting of an al-country influenced sound combined with anthemic pop vocal delivery, this quiet tune worms its way into memory, to be placed on the heavy rotation list. With lyrics that demand more than a casual listen, this is serious music, no matter the fact that it’s catchy and very sparely arranged. http://www.jo-suweit.com. ( Sensitive piano based ballad from a serious songwriter with a classic, memorable, dreamy and instant sound, lovely - Matchbox A&R) 

Sensitive, melodic, classic singer/songwriter PAUL BIRTWELL above. 

Paul Birtwell – Until We Cry

Exhibiting a John Cougar Melencamp strut as this track opens, Paul soon meanders into better known brit-pop territory with a distinctly country feel. Paul has been playing around the country for a while (he started playing guitar at age 15) and this song is from his most recent work. Featuring nothing but guitars and the barest hints of percussion, Until We cry is a melancholy lament for love found and lost. ( Classic, bluesy, jazzy, sensitive, melodic ballad from a singer/songwriter with substance and sentimental value - Matchbox A&R) 

Slider – Synthetic Heart

Synthetic Heart crashes out at you with big guitars and attitude. This is what Oasis thinks they sound like when they’re on speed. A loud, pacey pop number with serious attitude this song certainly sets out Slider’s objectives for you. With some serious lead guitar licks over the top of everything, there may even be some peter Frampton influences in this celebration of guitar noise, but whatever it is, this is going to remind you of the best moments when people actually used to play loud guitar on the radio. This one should be there too. 

( Loud, powerful, Indie rock with a groovy, noisy swagger and tons of guitar energy, produced by Wonderstuff, House of Love, Jesus and Marychain producer Pat Collier - Matchbox A&R) ). 

The lovely, groovy, flowery, noisy and very cool JC'S REVENGE above. 

JC’s Revenge – Daphne Blake 

Guitar driven pop, with more than a slight nod to The Jesus and Mary Chain, JC’s Revenge’s sound cuts through the clutter like a chainsaw. And yet, a delicate vocal melody line and lead guitar pirouette over the overdriven rhythm to forge a catchy, rounded sound. The band hails from Cheltenham, and has had some good reaction to their work up until now. If things continue in this vein, it looks like they may have to move somewhere bigger. They are Mike Green (Guitar, Vox) , Sam Christie (Guitar B/Vox) , Richard Morgan (Bass) and Tim Dutton ( Drums). www.jcsrevenge.co.uk. ( Teenage Fanclub on holiday with Jesus and Marychain, Bouncy, witty, sing a long leftfield noise pop, fantastic - Matchbox A&R) 

  Many Many More – May Day

A strident guitar strung over a bare base of guitar and bass is overlaid with punky vocals. Bit of a nod here to some of the better punk-metal cross over bands of the past. This one is unlikely to get any airplay on mainstream commercial radio but retains a little something that will keep you listening after you thin you already know what happens next.   ( Gritty, powerful, tuneful, different, leftfield rock, a great end to a great album  - Matchbox A&R)