Barely taking a breath, never mind a drawn-out intro, Honeycube launch into the opener on their self-titled debut. Fast-paced and feisty, Song for Nell sets a furious pace which rarely lets up for the whole record.
Saying that the Lewisham-hailing band has plenty to cram in, so the pace is fitting. With the hooks to impress serious musos and the melodies to keep the floating fans happy — they clearly have a lot of talent and ideas they want to show off.
Yet, when they do take a breath it’s a real treat. Three tracks in — after Our Tears are Not Yet Brew’d, which is like a great deal of chart-topping indie you can’t move for at the moment, but better — Purple saunters in.
Its acoustic guitar-driven melody, gentler vocal and a nicely-placed string section are reserved and classic (a blend the band revisits for closer White Rose).
Next up is Pocket Full of Wishes – a rocky stomper with an anthemic chorus I dare you not to sing along to. They clearly have high hopes and expectations for this one — it has a grand, gospel-style outro. And we go from gospel to disco. Sort of.
Although, Judge Me Then Judge Yourself has an awesome intro so much like Chic’s Good Times I had to check I hadn’t accidentally started listening to my Best of Disco compilation, it soon delves into a more dirty fuzzy garage sound with chiming guitars.
It’s innovative sounds like these which help you forgive Honeycube for the slightly dodgy song titles (Delusions of a Lovestruck Fool!) and the far too noisy moments (Til The Day That I Die).
It’s clearly important to the band to retain a London flavour — all vocals have a south east London twang which shines through brighter than the beacons on Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers.
Filled with experimental sounds, excellent choruses and energy, this is a debut filled with promise. See them live for the full force.
Honeycube live at the Montague Arms, New Cross. Nov 14.
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