No Disco is the name of Peter Toners Coleraine based shoegazing outfit and we are treated to four tracks on his new EP entitled ‘I’ve Been Around’.
‘All Alone’ is the first track and it starts out in quite innocuous fashion but it only takes a minute for the music to really kick in with pulsating guitars and heavy drums. Peter Toner has a voice that echoes Brian Molko and remains clear and authoritative throughout the record. It is the best thing throughout this record by a stretch. ‘I’ve Been Around’ continues in the same vein with Toner’s voice again the driving force as often is the case with shoe gazing as the music is nothing we haven’t heard before. This is no bad thing but then again there is no real innovation to speak off.
‘Summertime’ highlights the influence of Ash and Tim Wheeler would indeed be proud of a great indie hit in the making. Clever lyrics, well balanced melodies and a really catchy synchronization between drums and guitar create a song steeped in lovely meandering shoegazing quality.
The last track on the EP ‘Going Away’ sends us off with an anthemic track reminiscent of Incubus with big sounds, big lyrics and sweeping soundscapes. It is a fitting end to a record that shows some serious promise. At times the music can feel a little ordinary but then a small change of direction pulls us back in and if Toner can continue to craft songs as powerful as ‘Going Away’ then perhaps we may be on to a winner here. Perhaps.
◀ STANDOUT ⁞ Going Away ▶
◀ CONNECTION ⁞ Ash | Placebo ▶
