Demo Dip

The Guaranteed Irish seal is a terrific marketing device. It conjures up Bórd Fáilte images of purity, nature and an altogether green and pleasant land. It's ideal for selling spring water, holidays and home grown produce. But it is far less effective when marketing a band to an international audience.

Ireland is ahead of the pack in terms of talent per capita and respected for that internationally. But to put it bluntly, some kid in Illinois is not going to pay $13.99 because a band hail from County Anywhere. The same basics of talent, dedication and luck apply to any artist. With an ear to the ground and an eye to the demos of the past year it seems too many Irish bands are too complacent and don't quite realise just how much hard work goes into making a world class act.

Usually only bands from Ireland or artists resident in this country are reviewed in the Dip. As chance, fate and luck of the draw have it the first band plucked from the demo box, All U Can Eat, are a UK band of Asian descent living in West London. Normally, that would disqualify them—except for the fact that this band are indeed a world class act. They set the sort of standard that other bands aspiring to that stature will be judged by.

Stranger still, it wasn't the band who sent in their demo, but UK label, Nation Records, who are considering signing the band. Most labels aren't this brave and try to keep their fledglings unheard by competitors until the ink has dried. If this is a publicity scam we don't mind that either. Seems Asif from the label is a regular reader and wants to hear what the Dip makes of what could be the label's signing. The Dip's verdict: grab that pen, call that lawyer, get those kids in the office. AUCE do indeed live up to Nation's motto of "Innovative, Creative, Uncompromising".

There are comparisons to Fun-Da-Mental, whom they have supported, and Skunk Anansie but, really, the band have their own agenda. They look about 19 but can play with the sort of "mad at the world" intensity reserved for shell-shocked veterans of particularly grisly battles. The trick is they still maintain a certain youthful innocence. The singer has an almost fragile, even demure quality; at times he seems almost swamped by the rage of the music. It doesn't hurt that by the look of the Xerox photo enclosed they have the dark, handsome looks that could get them on the pop pages as well as the metal and indie mags.

Maybe not ripe for signing quite yet, but making some good moves all the same are 8 Ball from Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Their fave band is Kerbdog, but they also cite Radiohead, Aerosmith and The Stone Roses as influences.

8 Ball need to refine their thrash if they want to make an impact beyond the local scene. The vocals lack the sort of distinction to cut across the metal, and the drums need to be more restrained; it is a common mistake with bands of the heavy persuasion to mix the drums too high. They do have some good melodies, though, and moments where the mayhem makes sense.

Seems the band have already gone some way to improving the sound: they tell us that since this tape was recorded the vocalist has left, another has slotted in and a new guitarist has been added. Look for the next 8 Ball recording with the new line-up some time in August.

Must be metal fortnight here at the Dip, as the next tape is indeed of that hardcore parish. Immodium from Wexford advise us that the moniker hails from a Kurt Cobain song (the early working title for Nirvana's "Breed") and not the "Imodium" diarrhoea cure: the press release assures us that "there is no shit with this band".

Word is that the Wexford guys shine best on the live stage with special kudos to the charisma and playfulness of singer/guitarist Derren Dempsey. Again, the drums here are a trifle busy and too high in the mix. They have a good sense of dynamics but still need to provide something beyond the thrash/grunge sound if they want to stand out from the crowd. More melodies, more vocal range and some added production might go a long way to help them reach their ambitions.

The Halleys send us a fully grown release-quality CD recorded in Dublin. The Halleys offer a welcome respite from the hardcore/metal/grunge of the preceding demos, but even they have lashings of chainsaw guitar mixed in with the lounge sounds.

The influences are diverse to say the least: picture Pizzicato Five trapped in a lift with Therapy? while Ozzy Osbourne wafts through the muzak speakers. Stranger still, there are tracks here that sound like an entirely different band, giving The Halleys' Fragile CD the feel of a compilation rather than the effort of one band. They jump from easy listening, to ska, to metal, to punk and don't quite have their feet on any particular ground. If they learn how to channel these various influences and focus their intriguing leanings they will achieve that rare world-class stature. They have all the right ingredients—a sympathetic and in-tune producer could provide the right degree of focus.

• On line, got a question, got a gripe, just want to say "Howdy"? E-mail Debbie at [email protected]
• Want to listen to music that will change your life or just worry your Mum with the weird sounds coming from your room? Tune in to the Hot Spot every Friday night 9–11 PM on East Coast Radio, County Wicklow, 95, 96 and 103 FM. Or check it online with live audio at www.eastcoastradio.net
• Gotta demo? Send it in, you might find true love, a record company might call you up, or maybe not. You'll never know if you don't send your tapes, CDs and vinyl offerings to Demo Dip, Debbie Skhow, 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.