After seeing them live at the Godiva Festival and them blowing my proverbial bollocks off, the arrival of SWAMPdonkey's latest offering was hotly anticipated by this reviewer.

Coventry's finest latest 2 track CD shows just why they impressed me so much (apart from the lack of the guy who stands on stage with a crash helmet, a foam guitar and a 'Lipsknot' boiler suit.) On first listen, you could easily compare to Oasis, if only for the vocal similarities...but thats just bloody lazy. If you listen deeper, you can hear SO much more.

First track 'Gaz's Song' is a slice of indie rock as it should be.... melodic and in your face. From the funky intro of scratching and almost primal drumming through to the full on assault of the verse, you know you are on to a winner. It is what would happen if the afore mentioned Manc band dared to get out of the main stream and went back to their 'Definetly Maybe' roots. The introduction of a brass section and some great scratching (their DJ is a REAL asset, live & recorded) sets this apart from other bands of this genre.

Second track 'Wooden Sky' is one of the ones that got me going live. With a lovely intro, a slow and catchy riff with the singer asking about if you could see your funeral after you died...sweet! Then the anger kicks in and the band show the extra dimension. The brass again is at the fore, but you can hear how tight the band are... nothing is over powering. The rhythmic drumming, riff laden guitars, intense vocals & ska-esque brass are all in unison, and how many demos can you say that about?

The only complaint I do have is that the intesity live isn't captured, but that is almost impossible because they have such a presence. An almost manic frontman who has a pechant for using megaphones as instruments and a tambourine that he uses to try and lobotomise himself, a DJ who is just the epiteme of cool, a guitarist and bassist who you can tell are really into what they do, a drummer who gives his all....even when he loses a drum stick (and he thought no-one noticed) & of course, the man with the boiler suit.

Fact is, this band have all that is needed to become a huge cult band in the Midlands at LEAST. If they can get the right backing from their management and a few indie releases scattered around, they could go much further... and I for one, relish that thought!

If you are intrested in purchasing a copy of this demo, send an e-mail to jeff@swampdonkey.co.uk and say that Colin sent ya!