The Four
Chessmen - A
Review How do
you top Giraffic
Park ? Here's
how in 12 easy
steps.
1) Fish and
Education - from
the Pepperesque
beginning with
Ringo shouting '
aye aye cobh '
to start the
proceedings this
opener just
drives on like a
chuggernaut. you
just know from
the outset that
the band have
moved up a gear,
the lyrics are
tighter, the
production is
clearer, the
playing more
accomplished. a
lively riff from
Jason underpins
the whole thang
and the
leadbreak smokes
sgadans.
2) Das Boot - a
genuinely moving
song about an
old boot.
economical top
notch lyric,
superb
atmosphere,
wonderful hook.
Robin's hammond
organ/house
mucus keyboard
and the punchy
bass give the
song true
feeling. chust
when you think
it can't get any
better comes an
instrumental
from heaven.
lovingly
handcrafted by
master
craftsmen. a
truly
astonishing
track and
possibly the Dun
Ringles finest
achievment to
date.
3) At The Wheel
- one thing
you'll notice
listening to the
cd is the well
thought out
running order,
with nicely
contrasted mood
and pace. from
the atmospheric
straight down to
business with
some ' heads
down, no
nonsense
mindless boogie
'. with shades
of Swedish TV's
' Big Hair '
this is one to
rock you bobban
socks off. i get
tired just
listening to the
exploits of thon
lorry drivers
racing to catch
the ferry.
4) In The Night
- the pace slows
again for this
acousticee
mellow number
complete with
backwards geetar
solo. a pause
for breath after
a breakneck
start to the cd.
5) The Mane Man
- a nice light
touch with this
tribute to the
head Honcho man
with a Peter
Frampton-esque
geetar solo to
boot.
6) Sea Chain -
and back down to
the serious
business. the
most Ringleish
sounding track
on the cd.
another great
riff and solo
from Jason with
a big noncholant
chorus.
7) Gallows Hill
Rooks ( On The
Lookout For
Crooks ) -
possibly the
greatest rhymes
ever gathered
together for a
chorus. the best
example on the
cd of the Dun
Ringles
trademark use of
local subject
matter, they
make me believe
that the CCTV
cameras in the
town might chust
be unecessary.
I'll never look
at a crow the
same way again.
8) Frost -
evocative vocal
effects bring to
life this tale
of coldness,
nice touch.
subtle geetar
work and
sweeping
keyboards over a
laid back beat,
mmmm nice.
9) Carved In
Wood - a bit of
a dance beat,
the Dun Ringles
are never afraid
to embrace new
sounds and this
eclectic mix of
influences gives
them a truly
unique take on
this mucus thang.
another great
lyrical
painting, chess
pieces wandering
off, priceless.
10) Wee Womble
Getting Scared
By The
Balantrushal -
chust beats
those Rooks to
the best song
title on the cd
award.
revisiting the
seemingly
endless supply
of
Scout-influenced
songs this up
tempo number
with semi-rap
vocals and more
smokin' geetar
from Jason
actually makes
sense when
listened to
along with the
lyric booklet.
weird and
unsettling
deliberately
slightly off-key
chorus brings
the monster
theme to life.
11) Break Away -
continuing the
chess motif this
bluesy number
boasts a lazy,
echo-laden vocal
from Wattie with
some nice licks
from Jason and a
wild fade-out.
12) Fir Chlis -
a very strong
closing number.
beautiful intro
awash with harp
awoken by some
mental rockin'
out. settles
down again with
some great
acoustic geetar
work. an epic
track, a
wonderful
ending. Memphis
Louie - April
2004