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Review: Kartica - Don't You Think So [Single]

Self Released // "captures the spirit of their influences and offers up a nice slice of swelling, dreamy guitar rock"

by ivarmac, June 28th, 2012 and has been Read 796 times.
Last Edited by: Ffion Davies June 29th, 2012.

Sheffield's Kartica are part of a rapidly diminishing breed, taking their cues from the 90's Britrock monsters and adopting a straightforward, three-chords-and-a-chorus attitude to music production. New single 'Don't You Think So' captures the spirit of their influences and offers up a nice slice of swelling, dreamy guitar rock that's unfortunately let down by some rough-and-ready production.

Opening with watery sweeps of a guitar and the purposeful kick of the drum, the song proceeds into the fairly familiar territory of Oasis or Ocean Colour Scene. The understated vocals of Mathew Hook retain that same shoe-gazey quality but anchor the elatory chorus well and the drumming of Louis Eshelby provides some nice momentum shifts and keeps things from sounding too similar.

WATCH // 'Don't You Think So?'

It's a shame, then, that Hook's lyrics are undecipherable in spots thanks to an overload of reverb and questionable production that fails to compensate. It all sounds a little soupy, the first line sticking in your head as "howsarummsafrayawayafrayaway in the sunshiiiiine!" which is, obviously, not ideal (although I did enjoy writing it).

First B-Side 'Wider Eyes' see's the band strip everything back to the acoustic chords of rhythm guitarist Joe Troughton and Hook's voice, with lead guitarist Sam Cotterill following the notes during the chorus. It's nice enough on first listen but really grew on me as I returned to it a few times. Pleasingly understated, clean and catchy. The introduction of clapping for the final third of the song didn't really work for me; it just wasn't needed and the clap sounds themselves are harsh and more than a little distracting.

LISTEN // 'Wider Eyes'

http://soundcloud.com/altpr/kartica-wider-eyes-1

Second B-Side 'Taller Today' is lovely. A hearfelt sing-along type of song that showcases Mathew Hook's crackly, earthy singing voice in the best possible way. Ending the track with a Frusciante-style soaring, minimal guitar solo is extremely effective and adds a euphoric edge to the collection that otherwise has quite downbeat vibe, much in the same way as The Verve.

Give these guys some decent production and you've got an exciting, if recognisable, prospect for the future and fans of any of the bands I've mentioned owe it to themselves to keep an eye on Kartica.