Leeds rockers welcome the release
of brand new single ‘Wolf Hand’ with a free to download EP for their fans,
which is a nice little bonus for anybody who got their hands on the band’s
recent album ‘Tough Love’, which received much praise. This group of songs
includes a cover of American songstress Lana Del Rey’s ‘Blue Jeans’ (which was
recently recorded for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge) as well as a trio of live
tracks from the ‘Tough Love’ record.
The ‘Blue Jeans’ cover, which is
a good choice as it ranks up there with the strongest bittersweet love songs on
Lana Del Rey’s album ‘Born to Die’, is a complete makeover of the original,
keeping the same melodies but overhauling the instrumentals in a dramatic way.
It’s basically a grunge-rock take on the subdued ballad, with distorted guitars
and growled vocals replacing Lana’s breathy intensity. It’s an impressively
different sound, keeping the original sadness/uplifting
elements in the right places. This talented bunch clearly aren’t afraid to take
risks, and the adulation online for this cover is warranted.
The first of the free live track
is ‘Wolf Hand’, and the spirit of the song from ‘Tough Love’ is captured
perfectly. The driving bassline dictates the flow of the track, which includes
some passionate and fulfilling ‘forever young’ themed lyrics (‘When I was young
I was a dick, and nothing changes’). The soaring guitars, thick beats and
juddering rhythm are infectious, and this live take on a popular PABH track is
a delightful listen.
Next up is a live version of ‘Everything
Dipped In Gold’ continues the contagious sounds, with another pulsating
bassline, yelped punk vocals, Brit grunge and powerful chords. The vocal
harmonies create an interesting landscape of sound and this track proves to be
lots of fun, and it sounds like the band are having plenty of that as they
play.
The final live take is ‘Night Of
The Living (I’m Scared Of People)’ and it channels the edge of the band with
stop-start riffing and harshly spat vocals. Early Biffy Clyro can be heard (a
suitable reference) and PABH can now stand up with the best of British alternative
bands. This free EP is a fantastic bonus for fans of the band and worth a
listen, even as an introduction to the group.
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