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Semaphore - S/T
3.5/5
Words: Mark Kelly
These days the world is full of bands that are just bloody good. They’ve got their sound nailed down, they can play it like they mean it, they have cool press shots that make them look brooding and vulnerable, they have nice hats, coats and bandanas to wear. It looks good, sounds good and it is quite bloody good.
Semaphore is one such band. Imagine a song that Lou Reed would write for a long lost girlfriend, add some spook-folk atmospheric guitars, warm bass licks and a smooth baritone vocal that could melt cold steel and you’re getting somewhere close. It’s refreshingly divorced from most of the tedious indie drivel that spawns in North London.
A shame then to say I can’t see it going anywhere. For all Semaphore are a good sounding band, there’s nothing particularly different that sets them apart from all the other ‘good’ sounding bands in the world. Even their flagship tune Platform Nine lacks that certain special trick that turns good music into great music.
But, if you’re a fan of bluesy folk in the vein of Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash then it’s definitely worth a look.
Released: 17.11.08
You can pick up your copy of NARC from almost every music venue in the region as well as record shops, pubs and selected shops. For the full list see OUTLETS in the left panel
