The Postbox Theory

Experiment #1

Written by: TL on 26/04/2009 22:17:48

While life, and more specifically university life, finally caught up with me this week, forcing me to actually do some work, I hope that you didn't for a moment think that I wouldn't be posting any reviews. First one up tonight is the debut EP of The Postbox Theory, a grass root level alt rock band from Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

The EP is fittingly titled "Experiment #1", and as this implies, what you're in for if you get it is a rather demo-ish kind of effort. However, for one such record, let me start out by saying that the sound of it is rather good, calming the fear you might otherwise get from looking at the band's myspace, namely that it would suffer from having probably been recorded in one of the boys' garages.

After a mellow and progressive intro titled "Mirrors", the first track "Ease Of Use" instantly catches your ear with a quite cool bassline that has me thinking of Rage Against The Machine. That impression dissipates almost instantly though, as both guitar and vocals soon pull the soundscape in a completely different direction. Rather, the distorted guitars and the feedback they generate, along with the vocals, remind me mostly of Radiohead, particularly of their more mellow and simplistic parts like for instance those of the classic "Creep". The lead singer's vocals sound very much like Thom Yorke or maybe Kurt Cobain at their lowest, and while such comparisons immediately seem good natured, the truth is that it is also in the vocals that the band is most hindered.

You see this music is generally very mellow in nature, and while the guitars occasionally kick up some more noise, the vocals fail to ever transcend beyond mellow chanting, and as such the overall impression is that The Postbox Theory are still a rather one dimensional act. This is supported by the drumming, that while seeming proficient also remains in mid tempo for the most part and this too makes the songs on "Experiment #1" feel a bit flat. The best song on it is definitely "Recommence The Tea Party" as this is where we get a slight taste of a faster and catchier guitar riff, as well as a proper noisy climax. Now had the band only had a skilled vocalist who could rage on top of that, or maybe just raise one of the verses of a song by an octave, the memorability of it all would have been much increased.

However, it seems rather clear that the singers in TPT are guitarists first and vocalists second, and while that's not something to discourage, I really think they need to improve the singing if they want to make a more lasting impression in the future. For now I'm afraid "Experiment #1" displays them as an example of perfect mediocrity. You don't mind listening to it, but you also don't feel especially compelled towards putting it on again when it's over.

5

Download: Recommence The Tea Party, Ease Of Use
For The Fans Of: Radiohead, Kashmir, Nirvana
Listen: myspace.com/thepostboxtheory

Release Date: 19.04.2009
UNSIGNED BAND

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