Artist: Velvet Star
Title: Velvet Star
Type: EP
Label: Self Released

No matter how much music evolves we will always get that archetypal group of musicians and fans who insist they were born into the wrong generation and seek to lecture their peers on how things were so much better in the 70’s or 80’s. Right now as I type, there is a 15 year old who takes just enough emo couture to be considered cool, while pushing his floppy fringe back with a pink sweatband, tucking his drainpipe jeans into some hi-tops and wearing a pint-sized G’n’R t-shirt his mum bought him from HMV. He just discovered AC/DC thanks to Guitar Hero and thinks they’re the best thing since Avenged Sevenfold and really needs to hear more stuff like it but isn’t sure where to look. Not a criticism, just an observation, like.

Velvet Star are a real throwback; they give all modern trends the two-finger salute and if it’s retro glam-rock sleaze you’re after then these Northern boys will have your hair standing on end (and that’s before you’ve doused it with half a can of Shockwaves). It comes swaggering in, cigar in mouth and girl on arm, with the instantly catchy ‘Something About You’ which is perhaps the strongest track out of the seven. The lead guitar work is worth mentioning as the solos have that velveteen slickness that worshippers at the altar of Slash will really dig. The vocals almost have a punk snarl to them and it’s obvious they draw from a wide pool of influences especially on ‘Binge’ with the Dave Navarro-esque harmonics.

’15 Minutes’ has a nice heavy bassline and some AC/DC hard-rock riffage and all in all the music is tight and well executed. This is not breaking any boundaries but it’s good fun and it’s all about that ‘Rockstar/Superstar’ larger-than-life attitude. With the likes of Steel Panther posing on the pages of Metal Hammer on a monthly basis, there’s definitely a market for this one. Don your best spandex suit, take a large swig of whiskey and get them fivers ready to slip down strippers’ g-strings. Velvet Star have come for the party!

http://www.myspace.com/velvetstarband

Luci Herbert

MTUK HOME