VISION STATE is rather a grand name for a band who have released nothing. However it isn't such a grand name for a band who have already attracted XFM, the BBC and of course my good-self.
On the strength of this demo Vision State's nearest contemporaries are The Music or Kasabian without the comic gadgetry that seems to eat away at the those two bands musical soul. In which case think Northern Soul era Verve or Pusherman with out the junk and you're getting a whole lot closer. This is indie rock 'n' roll at its best.
Opener "Rush" kick-starts with a Zeppelin-like guitar riff and menacing high hat before giving way to chunky 4x4 drums that roll over you, with a hint of a ghost brushing on the snare. It recedes for the briefest amount of time before flooding back in with a full frontal assault of guitar and hard rhythm, thus demonstrating this bands architectural and spatial understanding of music. Singer Ricky Skinner crying out "Would you call me when your comin' home / don't wanna be alone...", without pretension, but with emotion. It is all big drums and hard rhythm and groove, with a shot of rude wah-wah solo. It's as simple as that. And then it's over. It has attitude but it is never forced.
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"Rush" is the best song of this three track demo and is an obvious future single. "Your Type" is aloof; "Strength In Numbers"( distant sounding and dreamlike, are less impressive, but still displaying a maturity, restraint and control over the powerful nature of their own sound.
If Ricky Skinner has as much charisma as his band's music and if the band sound anything like this demo live, then this reviewer might have introduced you to something special - time will tell. Get out and see them.
(The band play Water Rats, Kings Cross on Monday 14th March)
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