Formation - The Statue Theives
Combining British rock influences from the early sixties to the mid-nineties, the latest EP from London four piece The Statue Thieves sounds like it could and perhaps should have been released twenty years ago. That’s not to say that it isn’t welcome in 2014; just that it is very reminiscent of the British bands that made a name for themselves in the nineties by infusing standard blues rock with funk, jazz and freewheeling psychedelia. Those that are likely to enjoy Formation are also likely to own a faded Gomez t-shirt, a scratched Badly Drawn Boy CD and a framed poster of Reading Festival 1995 (by no means a combination to be sniffed at). The songs, even those with guitar solos and harmonic breakdowns, are slow, pleasant moments of relaxation. There’s no rush to Formation, and whilst the lack of urgency in the music is enjoyable, the vocals tend to be a bit repetitive and uninspiring. For the EP to really stand out the guitars need to be bigger; currently they lack the balls that you’d want from a rock-blues-funk band. Vocally too, lead singer Craig Ingham needs a bit of oomph, and a gravelly, smokes-60-a-day character would complement the music more than his laid-back timbre. Meatier than 2012’s Statues of Realisation, which featured more acoustic and dreamier electric guitars, Formation is a good Sunday afternoon EP with some promising elements; the harmonica is a gorgeous addition, the drums are simple and the bass buzzes in a violet haze. All they need now is a truckload of Golden Virginia, a rough bottle of whiskey and a Jimi Hendrix session and The Statue Thieves could be well on their way to winning your dad’s heart.