E11ven EP launch
I have been looking forward to hearing E11ven’s debut EP, Latitude, since they announced they were recording, not just because I have seen E11ven live a number of times and wanted to hear how their sound transfers to disc but also because a lot of local bands and musicians have complimented Boneyard Studio, where this EP was recorded.
The boys have experience making records in various previous projects but I was expecting a more professional product than the Lovers of Alginoil’s Income Tax for the Clergy this time. I was not disappointed with the recording, a great bit of hard rock that could have come from a big signed band, rather than a self-financed EP recorded just down the road in Swansea.
The EP opens with the title track, Latitude a song based around a hard rock guitar riff and a pounding bass line. This is a track that will get your head nodding from the off. Next up is one of my personal favourite tunes, Bullet. This song has always sounded great live but the extra time that the boys have had in the studio to tweak their sound has elevated this song even higher in my opinion. The pace slows down a touch for third track Girl & Fur, where the boys show their versatility with a great bit of stoner rock. Although I said that the boys sound a lot more professional in these recordings than I am used to them being, they do sound like they had a lot of fun recording the backing vocals for final track Sh*t Disco. This is always a favourite live track and again the boys have added to that live energy with some nifty vocal effects and finished the EP with an upbeat fun rocking track.
E11ven had their EP launch party at the masons last Friday and what a party it was. The last time I had seen the pub that busy was when the rumour got around that the system of a down cover band playing there were the actual system of a down. I have seen E11ven play many times but I could tell that they had something special planned for this gig as they were all completely sober which is not like them. This new found professional outlook even extended to a full light show with lasers and a smoke machine.
The band opened the gig by playing the four tracks from their EP to a great reaction from the crowd so much so that singer, Gareth Dixon, decided to join the crowd and get involved. The Masons has always been known for it's great sound and I don't know if it was because of the atmosphere but everything just sounded bigger to me that night. Next up, the boys pulled off something of a surprise by covering Tears for Fears' classic, Shout, giving it a new grungier sound. The band continued to impress all the way through the gig and just the add to the party atmosphere, the boys even handed out party poppers at the end of their set and after finishing with their always great version of the prodigy's omen. The party continued long after the last song had finished with a late night disco.
