Demos

Inner Voices - Surveillance State

Owain Paciuszko 02/03/2009

Rating: 2/5

Starting with a sort of funk-rock mixed with electro introduction the title track of this short EP there's something a little dated about the sound contained within, then once the vocals start playing off of Brian May-like guitar licks things become even more firmly routed in a 1980s approach to rock. It's that unfortunate collision of 'cutting edge' production and rock, with lyrics warning you that 'your freedom's gone' that all ends up feeling very retro and not in a good way.

Carbon Shadow fares better musically, but Adam Brierley's vocal is a tad on the rock-opera meets Pet Shop Boys side of the fence, and though his instrumentation is occasionally good and interestingly produced, it doesn't really stop some of the lyrics being quite embarassing in a Spinal Tap (but taken seriously) kind of way.

The final track, My Aberration at first finds things a bit more stripped down with Brierley's voice against a lone guitar, and he softens his tones suitably, but soon there's oscillating synths and electric guitars and his voice picks up the angry baton again, and any power is lost as he sings; 'I'm waiting for the rain to come to wash away these lies'.

Sometimes Inner Voices manage to put together a good bit of instrumentation, but these moments are few and far between, and the epic 'state of our society' lyrics feel awkward and hollow when they should be powerful and personal.