In Print  Home  Directories  Reviews  Get In Touch  Forums  Links  Gig Guide  

Orkid: 3

A baffling incongruity of styles vying for equal time detracts from what could have been a startling listen. Part hard rock, part semi-funk, and occasional soundscapes (quite arresting more often than not), ultimately render listening to the whole disc something of a head scratcher. Too many cooks perhaps? I am assuming Orkid are a three or four-piece band. I say assume as the sleeve credits are very difficult to read, being a tiny typeface. This aside, musical analysis/opinion is possibly overdue. A relatively gifted and versatile guitar player covering feels ranging from thrash to lilting and several spaces between serves the overall sound well, although the loud/quiet/loud dynamic is perhaps somewhat too frequently used. Technically speaking, the level of competency is good and occasionally very good. For folk of a sensitive nature (are there any left?), beware of copious swearing. Said swearing is quite compatible however with lyrical subject material, hatchets waved variously at world powers, arms spending, rave culture, etc. All in all, considerable promise shown in an ability to kick out the jams with conviction. Great front page art too, revealing ever more detail as you study it.

Related Information