ACCORDING to All Eyes and Ears, they are a band that create atmosphere but don’t sond like Phil Coulter! The opening track ‘Wishing Your Life Away’ maps out the route that follows. This is a thoughtful, sad pop song that highlights the group’s strengths – the singer, Mick Joyce’s pleasing high tenor and deft piano playing coupled with Ed Manning’s atmospheric guitar and spacey production.

Further on through this tape, which is essentially an album length demo containing thirteen songs, you are struck by the versatility and diversity on show. but unfortunately it seems as if these songs have not been given the benefit of a live audience. There are a handful of great ideas stretched out over the album. I think live work would sharpen their song-writing skills. Musically, Mick Joyce and Ed Manning are undoubtedly talented, and this is by no means a bad demo, with tracks such as ‘Political Cabaret’, ‘Isn’t It Nice’ and ‘Sentimental Afternoon’ displaying a fine ability in the writing and arranging departments.

Coming up all the way from Dublin, The Cardigans have been together for over two years and have gigged around the country. The two songs here, ‘Prettiest’ and ‘The Violent Kiss’, are remarkably different from each other. ‘Prettiest’ is an extremely catchy early two-tone skanking pop song. The track bops along deliciously and shows The Cardigans to be very competent players. ‘The Violent Kiss’ finds them in a funkier vein. This is highlighted by a trashing rhythm guitar, swirling keyboard and a fine grooving rhythm section. The Cardigans hope to release an EP during the summer and I’m really looking forward to hearing it!

From Limerick come The Pumpdwellers, whose brand of music is dark and sombre. ‘Awakenings’ is the first of four songson this demo. This track features piano and vocal and invites you into a world of mystery and sleepiness. It is beautifully written and reeks with atmosphere. ‘Cenotaph’ is up next and has a distinctly Leonard cohen feel to it. Seeping through the acoustic guitar comes the singer’s voice which again creates a deep and evocative sound. The Pumpdwellers possess a very positive, earthy sound, although the ponderous rhythm may well put some people off. Thought-provoking, highly intense and deeply saddening. The Pumpdwellers may not be for everyone but F*** the begrudgers – I loved them!

Fiblmas, about whom I know nothing bar they are from Dublin (I think), have a great sense of humour and on the dubiously titled Taking It Up The Inside (apparently a reference to horse racing) they rock out with panache and an off-the-wall world view. If this is an avant garde rock band then I’ll refer to the great John Lennon quote – “Avant garde is French for bullshit”! But this is bullshit with a vengeance. At times it recalls the late Frank Zappa’s taste-free, innuendo-ridden brand of rock. This is well executed material which overcomes the sometimes comical lyrical content. It’s hard to say exactly what Fiblmas are up to, but they should stick to it.

In their own words “as refreshing as marshmallows and ice-cream”, Treehouse are a three piece guitar driven pop group led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Michael Lyons. First up on this three-track tape is ‘Green Bird Hill’, a melodic rocky number in the Husker Du mode. They go for, and achieve a big warm guitar sound, and Lyons’ lead vocal is ably assisted by Paul Ruddens’ backing vocals. ‘Of Mice Or Men!’ has a slower pace, a slightly more acoustic sound and again a well layered guitar sound. Finally, and in my opinion, the best, is ‘Dangerfield’. This is again vaguely reminiscent of Husker Du, or a more vocally relaxed Nirvana. Treehouse are a good rock guitar band and this, their second tape, shows them shaping up rather well.

For an album length demo, which is essentially a rough-cut and low cost production, The Long Stay have obviously got more than it takes. A three piece acoustic group that come from Belfast fall somewhere between acoustic John Martyn and Paul Brady’s early solo material. This is a lovely folky sound shaped by acoustic base, two acoustic guitars and frequent bursts of harmonica. To top this we have Brendan McCullough and Seán McAuley‘s great voices. This singing, if you like your thing folky, is really very good, as is the quality of the song-writing. Personal favourites from this ten track tape are ‘I Can’t Ignore What’s Mine’, ‘Fear of Water’ and ‘The Sun is Shining On’. The Long Stay make a warming, feel-good type of noise, are highly gifted, and are sure to attract a huge audience.

If you don’t believe anything I have said about the bands mentioned, you can tune into the City Limits Youth Affairs show on Anna Livia Radio, 103-8FM, Dublin, Saturdays from 10am–12 noon, in association with Hot Press, and judge for yourselves.