And not a Rook or a Raven in sight

Rook and The Ravens are an indie-rock group from just outside Manchester. With new single Alpha the group are hoping to take the music scene by storm and are offering us a sound so new that they may just do it. The single saw its official Irish release in an outstanding gig in Crawdaddy on October 2nd.

Rook and The Ravens are Joe and James Fay on vocals and guitars, Tom Cartledge on vocals and keyboards, Dave Brodie on bass and John B. Major on drums. In modern terms, the group is still in its infancy, and yet their sound is so polished and mature that it is almost impossible to believe that they haven't been around for years.

Alpha is a sumptuous blend of indie and Americana that has been finely tuned to such absolute perfection that it wouldn’t be out of place in an ad campaign the likes of which infused Florence and the Machine into our brains. Gravel-enriched vocals mingle with honey-drenched vocals and a relentlessly upbeat melody to create aural perfection. It would be easy to say they have a Zutons-esque sound, but that would be over-simplifying a sound which is, to me, already solely Rook and their own. Alpha is a summer-fueled track sent to warm our blue toes in an Irish October.

Second track Alpha Stuntman showcases the group’s versatility as it leaves behind the upbeat happiness of its predecessor and brings us into a wintery love-song. Not ones to be pinned down, Rook and The Ravens have put their own stamp on the track with oddly hypnotic mumbling vocals to create what is one of the quirkiest and most gorgeous love-songs of the year. What makes this group special is that nothing is out of place, whilst their sound is polished to perfection, their lyrics are incredibly articulate - something which has been sorely lacking in the British indie scene.

The group have named two of their biggest influences as being Neil Young and Jack White and whilst these influences occasionally show their faces on the tracks, they have avoided the musical wasteland of pretending to be anyone but themselves. Their music is their own and they have brought something new to the table. Rook and The Ravens' unique blend of happy pop and indie rock will obliterate winter recessionary blues.
 

If these guys are indicative of a new shift in the music scene, we are in for some exciting, and very enjoyable times. At a time when the music scene has become somewhat predictable, Rook and The Ravens are set for big things.

Alpha is available for download now through iTunes and www.downloadmusic.ie and is a must-have for all music-lovers’ collection. When the track comes on shuffle it won’t fail to get you smiling.

Ciara O’Brien