An Irish Technical Knock Out
TKO hail from Ireland and have recently been cruising the gig circuit of Dublin, their music comes across as sporadic 70's style rock met with a quietness in the soft violin sections and a haughty punch in the vocals. It's an interesting dynamic that's gained the band a dedicated live performance following, however on this very early recording in their career, it hasn't yet been quite realised to its fullest potential.
First song on the "Hats Off" EP 'Crashin' Down' is a relentless and unabashed slog through fast paced guitaring, lots of solos and a few meaty hooks chorus-wise. However it's in the second that their talent for tune shines through, starting like a Ringo Starr-penned Beatles track and continuing as if it were Ocean Colour Scene rearranging their back catalogue, 'My Fault' really shows signs of what it is that this band have got...
'Monday Comes' is also good, careening along like 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' by the Beatles, then unexpectedly breaking down into a piano and violin laden section with lush crooning over the top; it's certainly got a very nice feel to it, especially as the lap-steel steals the show towards the end.
'(Jammin In) Room 5' opens comically and continues with a television theme tune sense about it, seeming quite suitable for an ITV production with a mid-20s target audience, one of those songs that gets stuck in your head and that you'll always relate back to the same spot...
All in all, a band worthy of checking out should you ever hear of them playing near you, the EP is a fair representation of what they are like but there's much more of a vibe in the actual gig should you get the chance to view it, with a better recording aesthetic this could be good, as it is, the vibe's in the live...