The Others
S/T & Inward Parts
By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Wash DC/Richmond)
SugarBuzz Magazine
The best introduction to The Others is really their first CD simply entitled, ‘The Others.’ Playing the Glastonbury and Reading Festivals in the UK and a hot debut in the USA at SXSW, they have successfully blended elements of ’77 ‘Libertined’ guitar punk scratches, slant broods of The Cure and a striking resemblance in Brit-scratch vocals of Stiv Bator, deserved them the NME Singles of the Week with, ‘Lackey’ and ‘This Is For The Poor,’ smart melodies in retro-scruff applauds in a danceable bulk of catchiness. ‘Lackey’ has deliberate lyrics over top guitar and, ‘Southern Glow’ starts with a nice heavy bass pulse taking center stage to only be flipped into an M8 in guitar remembrance and half-narrative vocals. ‘This Is For The Poor’ also has calculated bass beginnings, insulated with guitar fuzz-bleeds. It’s the best song on the CD.
Their motto for breaking down barriers between band and audience, The Others are notorious for their ‘guerilla gigs’. Jimmy (lead guitarist) explains, “…the band gets a load of people together and play for them at unusual locations…’ – and not always authorized events. ‘…sometimes we will phone several hundred numbers and then take back half the crowd to a party at one of the band members’ flats.’ I admire their tactics.
‘Inward Parts’ is their latest CD, and it is a more danceable mix. ‘Thick As Thieves,’ is a slower tempoed song that almost croons through echo-guitar in unorthodox strums. Infrastructuring layering-fuzz along clean forefront guitar bridges targets a very believable likeability. I’ll be honest, every time I hear Dominic’s vocals… it’s almost uncanny... I think of Stiv Bators. (For sake of argument let me just clarify that no one can take place of the original Stiv!) The signature cadenced rhythm from Jimmy to the slowly fading quiet-taps of cymbal from Martin and Johnny on somber bass, makes this song. Immediately following, ‘Looking For a Product,’ with derived elements as if plucked out of the ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ CD, chiseled-out guitar-swells with Dominic’s croon-scratches vocals concocts rock and roll with 80’s velveteen influence.
Definitely the dark horse on the CD is ‘Desolate.’ Clanked out chords push behind guitar bridges with the sole purpose of stringing the poetically histrionic lyrics by default.
Now, remember why we are drawn to a certain band. It’s all in the elements—rock ‘n roll edgy vocals commanding meaning, melodic guitar fuzzes, plucky bass and beated drums…, and while awaiting a telephone call invite from The Others, and many adoring fans will crawl out from the woodwork, my cell phone will be turned ON.