The Gift

Reviewed: Two track CD

The Gift are receiving rave reviews around the Bristol/Bath area at the moment so I was pretty pleased when I got to see them play recently, they also have an old school nutty drummer which is always a good thing.

Anyway, here’s an “promo only” 2 track cd which I think has been designed to show both sides of the band. Opening track “Ride” is an adrenaline laced two minute affair that creeps in with a skeletal guitar riff, jumps on the distortion pedal, goes for the jugular and drinks deeply. Definitely a song that should make the suits at the record companies who also received this disc sit up and take notice. “Honey Moon” is from the “loud-quiet” chapter of the rock bible and although it doesn’t have the immediacy of it’s predecessor, there’s still enough going on to keep the listener interested. Pete Jackson’s vocals handle the transition between the whispered and shouty bits admirably and there’s even a wobbly guitar solo thrown in for good measure.

There’s an array of different bands hinted at through this cd, QOTSA and Pixies to name two. Now having seen The Gift live, this is definitely something I’d reinforce. If you like your guitars loud and your drummers slightly odd (!) then you could do a lot worse than checking this band out when they come to your town.

Reviewed by KG

Website: www.thegift.uk.com