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3 out of 10
We Are Us is the new single from Oldham based indie band Twisted Wheel, coming straight off their upcoming debut album released 13th April on Columbia Records. The band describe themselves as 'channelling the spirit of early UK punk and fusing it with a youthful swagger and a wider & grander ambition' and if this single is anything to go by they definitely have ideas above their station.
Opening with a Feeder-esque drumbeat and vocals reminiscent of indie's demigod Peter 'Pete' Doherty, before breaking into the same generic jangly guitar/plodding drumbeat tired formula that we have all heard hundreds of times before. The highlight of the song, when guitarist/vocalist Jonny Brown lets loose with some dissonant squeals, doesn't even appear on the radio edit, despite their grandiose, irony free might I add, claims that 'you will never change us'. Certainly the actions of a band "channelling the spirit of early UK punk". But never fear as the song segues into a typically modern, thought provoking climax, with plenty of 'la la las' to empty your giddy head to.
Towers of London had better keep looking over their shoulders as the lyrically embarrassing content of this song could be a sign that the cone shaped headgear with an uppercase d stamped upon it could be snatched from them and presented to the wordsmiths at Twisted Wheel HQ. Perhaps this is why they included an instrumental of the song on this single.
All this badmouthing however seems a little unfair, as Jonny Brown, Rick Lees and Adam Clarke have proven they are very hardworking, in fact they are currently on a tour that carries all the way through to July and so perhaps are deserving of their imminent success, the new album was recorded over the pond in Los Angeles with renowned producer of Oasis and Marilyn Manson - Dave Sardy and they are going to be notching up support slots with the aforementioned Mancunian maestros as well as the Modfather himself - Paul Weller.
Hardworking as they may be, there is something sinisterly calculated about Twisted Wheel, instead of being engaging and innovative, they seem happy to tick the right boxes to gain their fame. I can almost see the business model; complete with a graph showing net gain and year upon year growth to justify investments into this band. It certainly doesn't help when they happily advise that whilst on tour they will be implementing an "Innovative sales mechanic, which will incorporate either a free drink, t-shirt, or a piece of merch that will complement the live experience". There is no mention of a need to make this music, of an artist's passion and this is probably the reason the music falls flat.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thetwistedwheel
Tracklist:
1. We Are Us (Radio Edit)
2. We Are Us (Album Version)
3. We Are Us (Instrumental)
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