The Dash: Demo

These are the best two demo tracks I have ever heard. It’s very rare that such attitude and energy is so well captured so early on in band’s lifespan. ‘Alone No More’ and ‘Broomhouse Road’ excite from start to finish – both tracks flecked with exquisitely splattered filth, grime and style. On the evidence of these songs, there is nothing defensive about The Dash. The Gordon Raphael-produced ‘Alone No More’ starts as it means to go on: vocals beginning to shuffle forward, the guitars and organ lifting the song through some slow-groove Led Zep stomps, and back out into a lascivious, exploding refrain.

Having been given an earful of non-stop, chewed-up-and-spat-out rock’n’roll, we come to the real highlight. ‘Broomhouse Road’ is exhilarating. From its choppy syncopated intro, Marc Hayward’s deepened tones fit the tune’s dynamic melody and lyrics perfectly – the piano complimenting the chorus’s rise and fall with simplicity and precision. The one-finger fretboard movements The Strokes use beyond saturation, are used here to enhance rather than define – this is a very welcome change. If it hasn’t done already this tune is going to get the girls (and the boys) dancing. Watch your backs Razorlight. Space.Watch.This – arrange accordingly.