London Calling
So here we have the first proper demo from London based four piece Freshman who are already gaining something of a reputation for their energetic live performances and their regular trouncing of all comers in battle of the bands competitions!
As with many bands this is self produced and done on a tight budget; it does show as there's just that extra 'oomph' missing from crucial places. The guitars lack real power in places where it would have made a real difference (such as the chorus on title track 'Stronger'). The vocals would benefit from a little double layering in the choruses perhaps and maybe the bass could be a little more pronounced. Having said all that however, for a self financed and produced demo the overall impression is pretty impressive, the main reason being the quality of the musicianship and the songwriting.
Title track 'Stronger' is probably the stand out track here with a punchy riff and a slick verse that all build towards a catchy chorus, this is certainly one of those tunes that you find yourself singing in your head for no particular reason. In terms of style it's rock with a blues/soul tinge but you couldn't really lump Freshman into any particular category and that certainly works in their favour. Whilst the overall standard of musicianship is high, it's vocalist Mark's voice that gives Freshman that little something extra, with a good range and a distinctive sound it's certainly going to be interesting to hear what a seasoned engineer and some serious studio time could produce. A good track with some nice guitar work at the end although the production lets down what would otherwise have been a thumping ending.
'How Much Longer' really has me split down the middle, half of me really likes it but the other half finds it somewhat irritating. Having mused on this for a while I think it's a song of two halves, again the verse is slick and works well but the chorus is a little weak and rather obvious and it's this that detracts from the overall impression of the song. Once past the chorus though it picks up with a nice bass solo (they do like their solo's those bass players) and accomplished guitar work once again.
'Run' is the penultimate track and pushes 'Stronger' close for stand out track status. With a darker edge to the riff it works well and the chorus is much better than those of the preceding tracks. The production is better and it makes a real difference here, particularly on Mark's vocals and when the guitar solo kicks in. If they can knock out a few more of this quality then I think we're onto something here.
Last track 'Til I Reach' rounds things off well with a driving rhythm section and punchy guitars. Some nice backing vocals compliment the vocal lead well and give the overall sound a fullness that has been lacking in other songs. I don't doubt that as a live band Freshman are something special, throughout the EP they hint at an underlying energy and passion. This EP is a decent showcase for their sound and it does enough to warrant further plays but probably falls short of being a true and accurate representation of where they are as a band. They have something going for them though so keep a watchful eye out, you could be hearing a lot more of these guys if they get a decent break.