Just great music
Have you ever heard the expression 'Too good to be famous?' because I think it's an apt term for London's 'The Council'. Not to be confused with your local council, this is an 'acid-blues' rock three-piece and not a confused herd of middle aged local figureheads mis-spending our council tax. According to their press release they have been described as 'the only band that matter in London,' and after hearing their debut single 'Rainy Days (Revisited)' I don't think I'll be debating that statement.
I have to admit that 'acid-blues rock' isn't the well I dip my musical bucket into very often, hardly ever in fact, but I may have to start drinking from it if The Council are anything to go by. Perhaps it was the Kings X vibe I was getting from 'Rainy Days (Revisited)' that immediately won me over. I'm not talking about early Kings X but the more contemporary bluesy laid-back Kings X. This has largely to do with the rich deep vocals of singer/guitarist Derin Adebiyi, he may not sound very similar to Doug Pinnick but his feel and expression is.
The music is very immediate and instantly likeable, although at the same time quite laidback. 'Rainy Days (Revisited)' has a wonderful groove that'll cause car crashes as drivers may focus on playing air drums on the steering wheel than keeping their eyes on the road. The highlight of this sample E.P is 'Guinevere.' It's a gorgeous tune that seems to be effortlessly performed by this young three-piece. The thing that impresses the most with this E.P is its non-conformity. The length of the songs, the blatant changes in pace and direction, the mood swings all add up to a refreshing musical experience. This isn't pre-packaged tripe, nor is it manufactured for money and greed, it's purely about the music. Because of this fact The Council will never reach the heady heights of 24/7 fame, instead they'll have to put up with respect from their peers and a few turns on 'Later with Jools Holland.' 'Too good to be famous?' possibly.