“Wow, she’s the ultimate Goth pin up!”
That was the reaction of a young female friend of mine on seeing Grog; front woman for Die So Fluid on the cover of this, the third album from the band. Whilst that may be true, there is far more to the band then the highly photogenic vocalist/bassist, and this latest CD is definitely worth more then one listen, not just having an immediate impact, but layers that are only revealed from repeated listening.
After the initial otherworldly cries of opening track ‘Figurine’, Mr Drew’s guitar piles in with Al Fletcher’s drums, providing hook after hook. This track has one of the most darkly catchy choruses I’ve heard in a long time, sticking in the mind long after the first listen. If ever a track deserved to be released as a single, this one does, being both an excellent opener, and an introduction to the musicianship and skill of all the band members.
‘Storm’ provides another highlight amongst an album of superlatives. Starting with a gentle, almost acoustic guitar intro and matching vocals, bass and drum blast in to merge with a hard and melancholy guitar line, perfectly complimenting Grog’s powerhouse mournful vocals. Whilst barely over the three minute mark, on this one track the band manage to pack more genuine feeling, talent and emotion then a lorry load of Emo CDs.
‘Hearts Are Hollow’ is an up tempo number, littered with some punky drums and guitars guaranteed to get an audience jumping to the beat. Later on, ‘Raven’ ups the metal quotient with some straight rock guitar work, whilst the album’s listed closer ‘Sound In Colour’ gives Al Fletcher, a man whose prior work includes beating the skins for Lee Scratch Perry to show of his Ska and Reggae influences. When you buy the album, don’t switch off after ‘Sound In Colour’ finishes, as there is a hidden track following 15 minutes of silence; an unnamed piece of Grog simply accompanied by a piano, showing she can sing gently and delicately, the number visiting Gothic themes of unrequited love and death.
Die So Fluid are a band with a solid history of playing live, either headlining, or opening for a wide variety of acts. In the last couple of years I’ve seen them playing live with bands as diverse as Ill Nino, and Prong, and know that they are able to create the same full sound live as they have recorded, and I’ve no doubt these eleven tracks will be treated with the same skill.
http://www.diesofluid.net
http://www.myspace.com/diesofluid
