Murder F.M. Ah takes me back to a time when I would awaken myself with one of them radio alarm clocks… tuned into Radio One with one mister Chris Moyles on air. Now he is one guy I really would like to murder on the F.M, if only for the many mornings I suffered his exuberant yelling that just made me want to bury my head under the duvet and smack the snooze button (a substitute for his face). Hell, if I’d have wanted that kind of abrupt wake up call from some self-assured, overweight and overpaid tosser, I’d enlist in the army! Huh, well rant over. I did have a point there I think, but the other thing to remember about DJ’s other than the fact most would marry their own mirror if they could, is that there is an art to getting the balance just right between knowing what your core listener wants while attempting to reach as broad an audience as possible.
Now, if Murder F.M. was a radio station, and I was the kind of person who would tune in regularly, what would I be like? I guess I’d be young and with the times; Style conscious, in a black nail-polish and floppy fringe sense of the word. Perhaps I’d be a light drinker, though I’d undoubtedly stick to whatever’s cheap and colourful at the local rock bar; I’d be a social smoker and most likely sexually ambiguous, for the next five years at least. I could certainly stand to gain a few pounds, but given that I’m living off beans on toast it’s difficult, you know? We’re not all on Moylesey’s inflated salary! Musically I’d be hip to whatever Kerrang are digging this week, and ultimately my tastes are still rather malleable. I listen to this radio station because it’s current, it speaks to me, plays what I like while introducing me to new sounds at the same time. I don’t like everything they play, but that gives me time for a quick bathroom break and perhaps trek to the kitchen to fix a bite to eat.
Aside from trying to be facetious, this 8 track E.P. really is like tuning in to a half hour radio show as described above. There’s enough consistency here but also so much disparity that in places I really forget I’m listening to the same band. The show…sorry E.P. opens with the somewhat emotional ‘As Beautiful As You Are,’ which once you get used to the whininess of the vocals you can appreciate for its strong melody and memorable chorus. From there it’s taken to ‘Mrs. Wrong’ which bounces forth at a much livelier pace inviting you to tap your foot and nod along. There is equally a shift in the vocals which come across much harder and with a snide undertone that is the icing on the Wednesday 13 cake, and as sleazy as a Soho strip joint.
‘Anthems…’ is just as glammed up though in a more traditional sense and there’s some G’n’R riffage high in the mix. There is always a certain darkness underlying this release, with the basslines and electronic synths although it’s not until the second half that this Gothic style really jumps into the front seat. Okay, ‘Scars and Memories’ really plays specifically for that teen-angst afflicted listener out there in radio-land, with its Linkin Park riffs and sentimentality, but this follows with what’s easily the most appealing track here in my opinion; ‘You Won’t Be The Last,’ which hits you with its crunchy metallic guitars which combine with some beautifully dark and emotional Ville Laihalla-esque vocals to give this a Gothic feel. The haunting guitar that lurks beneath the surface adds to this, and continues into ‘Die For You’ adding atmosphere to a track that otherwise returns to that nu-metal stylee. Overall this was a surprisingly enjoyable listen and the variety works to keep me interested even in not everything is quite to my personal taste. It’s dynamic, fresh and today’s answer to The Murderdolls.
http://www.myspace.com/murderfmmusic
