The John Steel Singers -In Colour

Tue 11th Nov, 2008 in Music Reviews

The advantage of having six members in a band, with a swag of instruments and singers, is that you can demonstrate some variety and dexterity in your style. The danger is that you risk losing a common sound that can be used to identify your band. However, there’s no worries of that with Brisbane’s The John Steel Singers, who found critical and audience acclaim with their sweet-guitar-pop debut mini-album The Beagle And The Dove. Their new EP In Colour doesn’t ever reach its predecessor’s giddy heights, but it’s still pretty good, and a fine taste of things to come.

Rainbow Kraut sets off at a jaunty pace, with a driving guitar line, keys and trumpet keeping things upbeat and perky, while the piano-driven Luxembourg plods a little, with dreamy harmonised vocals in the chorus. Mother starts even quieter again, but picks up, with soft guitar and organ parts offset by a dark story of murder: “Mother, I killed your son and buried him deep in the ground, so deep he’ll never be found.” And final track Harlequin Maid is another mid-tempo pop piece, which doesn’t really have anything distinctive to make it stick in the mind.

By all reports, The John Steel Singers are quite prolific. These are four songs which have been written in the course of producing their album, but were felt to not quite fit the feel of the forthcoming debut long-player. Even so, it’s a pretty good snapshot of a band who are finding their feet (not to mention their live chops, with a reputation that grows with each show). In Colour is a good EP for just sitting back on a Sunday afternoon and relaxing. Bring on the album – it’s going to be a cracker.