Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions (EP)

Black Seal / Sony BMG

Isn't it always a lovely feeling when you stumble upon a band that you've never even heard of before but the moment you do a big smile slaps itself across your face. I tend to find that for me it is a lovely feeling that's somewhere between sexual relations with an angel & the world's greatest steak dinner (believe me that's a relativly small gap), but that's just for me you understand.

So when I stuck on Audrye Sessions self-titled EP this morning I was struck by instant pleasure, this is wonderous little collection of shimmering Edge-shape guitar riffs, harmonious lyrics (Oooohs & Aaaahs are good people), atmospherics a plenty, and a general all-round sense of happiness. Well done chaps & chap-ess.

There's only four tracks here so hold my hand & i'll walk you through them, firstly 'Take Me Off' is like a more exciting Guillemots track that deserves to be heard by a lot more people, this track is the equal of output by your stadium huggers like Coldplay to name just the uno. Ryan Karazija's vocals soar throughout especially in the chorus.

'Awake' reminds me so much of Delays as it shimmers & shines, Karazija'a falsetto vocal is an almost replica copy, this is a pop ballad (not a bad thing all the time) essentially but with more of a rougher edge to it.

'Where You'll Find Me' starts similarly to 'Awake' but with a more restrained tone & feel to it till we get about 55 seconds in and then the band explode in with a soaring harmonic assault you'd be forgiven for thinking there's an orchestra present here not the case sadly as that would really be a spectacle but we get some outro trumpet which is enough to satisfy my appetite. The highlight in my earnest opinion.

Final track here is 'New Year's Day' a more subtle, sombre effort taking the tempo down a notch but again there's no holding back for the chorus Karazija howling 'i'll wake up in the same familiar way/where i end, we'll begin/ we'll do it all over again' now i'm gonna summise that he's not a big fan of New Year, but the outro is nice and shiny so maybe he's perking up to it.

Audrye Sessions remind me of so many good bands and they have that very reminiscent sound making it hard to pinpoint exactly who they remind you of but you just know their good. This EP is a fine collection & I for one will eagerly anticipate a full release in the future.

http://www.myspace.com/audryesessions