No Tokyo
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No*Tokyo - No*Tokyo EP Review
EP Review
No*Tokyo have taken their time getting to the point where they are happy to put out studio material, concentrating instead on becoming a consistent live act, renowned for the incendiary intensity of their gigs. This incarnation of the band have been plugging away for a couple of years now and whilst they have not exactly been avoiding time in the studio, it has certainly not been a priority. Until now.
At five tracks and twenty-seven minutes, their debut release is packaged as an E.P. but we are almost in mini-album territory here. Lead track, 'Ego Healer' is possibly the heaviest song they have yet constructed, with Ernie Robinson's guitar firmly set to level rock. Daz Whittaker sings of seeking inspiration and, perhaps, something to relate to. 'More Than You'll Ever Know' is the most radio-friendly offering on the E.P. and the dance groove is in complete contrast to the opening track. Here, Whittaker muses over a girl who is not all she claims to be, a total contempt of fakes being a theme that runs through No*Tokyo's songs.
'Renegade' is quite rightly the centrepiece of this release. The song is a seething blast at the current state of popular culture, in particular the music scene and you can sense the frustration in Whittaker's yearning plea to be heard. "How can they deny us, if they don't know?" he ponders malevolently, over a wall of guitars. 'Flickering Lights' finds a paranoid Whittaker, in an intoxicated struggle over which path to take. Robinson's noodling guitar is the perfect contrast to Lee Graham's understated bass line in a song that has become a staple of the No*Tokyo live set. Including a song that clocks in at just one second short of nine minutes is a brave move but not a second of '40 Skies' is wasted. Dale Baker's stoic drumbeat maintains the pace, whilst Whittaker reminisces over the regret of leaving behind something so close to perfection, that it hurts. This is a space rock groove that The Verve circa 1994 would have been proud of.
The level of No*Tokyo's resolve not to rush this release is matched only by their conviction to be themselves and not mould their sound to the latest musical fad. "We're not content to be the same" pleads Whittaker in 'Renegade' and that determination oozes through everything they do. The studio-feet have finally and decisively been found and the sky really is the limit for No*Tokyo.
No*Tokyo E.P. is digitally released on 4th April 2011 and available from all of the major digital retailers. A limited edition physical release follows on 3rd May 2011.
