EP REVIEW: Young Amphibians ‘thought Control’

The best bands in the world, the ones that resonate within hearts and minds for years to come, simply put do 2 things; they bitch slap you with a barrage of sound, and then leave you with a ‘feeling’that resonates.  The 2 things are intrinsic, without the sound could you have the ‘feeling’and without the ‘feeling’the sound wouldn’t hit that hard.  In Young Amphibians debut EP Thought Control, we hear a band ready to do this, potentially on the cusp of greatness, trying to hit you and harness you with the ‘feeling’- and that’s great to hear.

For a band that only formed at the back end of last year, what’s remarkable to me is how together this Leeds based four-piece sound.  They are a tight and organised unit on record, like they’ve been playing these tunes for years.  It would be foolish to describe the sound as ‘something you’ve never heard before’- it’s because of a certain familiarity that the bands greatness can exist.  Guitar led indie Rock n Roll, skating back and forth between jingly licks and heavy reverb, with a little bit of metal-style soloing thrown in for good measure.  On my first listen I definitely liked it, and I have to say it’s really got under my skin ever since.

The 4 track EP demonstrates only hints at the bands ability and style.  Although the songs are really rather good, you get the impression that there’s so much more under there, waiting for a full album.  All the more reason to get the EP – everyone likes bite-sized portions.  The opening song Don’t Talk To Me (Like You Know Me) is very much that bitch slap I was talking about at the start.  Managing to sound a bit Britpop, a bit Glam and a bit post-punk all in the same breath, it’s a snarling guitar anthem drenched in beer, smokes and a wah-wah pedal.  Awesome track.  Please Remove The Plastic is an aloof yet angsty waltz, while Pablo’s Honey is a sexy desert rock romp, soaked with Queens Of The Stoneage-esque innuendo.  Of course, there’s the obligatory epic ‘lighters up’song, and what a belter it is.  From the first soft, acoustic chord of City Charm I can feel myself throwing an arm over a pal at a festival, shouty-warbling the chorus at the stage and those around me.  It’s a really beautiful song, with the perfect hook that will sit with you hours after you’ve heard it – there’s that ‘feeling’I was talking about.

If you want to hear something working on the peripheries of new instruments/recording techniques/electro cutting edge etc, this is not the band for you.  If however, you like good old fashioned indie rock n roll, with quality song writing, catchy hooks and something you can get a bit jumpy/sexy/dancey too – the kind of thing you can whack on your headphones and do some serious ‘walking across town’to – these will be the guys for you.  So now, with all this potential, will the live show prove to be as gripping, as tight, as awesome?  Well, you can catch them at Leeds’360 Club on 19th April, and The Spice of Life in Soho on 26th April, with more dates to follow in May.  I shall be keeping an eye on these boys…

 Young Amphibians Facebook

Kate Tittley

Kate Tittley

When not making cocktails for Manchester's finest, Le Titts is most likely to be found the other side of the bar in a cloud of smoke and wine musing loudly over her fantasy band line up, love of the album format and why nothing is better than The Stone Roses. And then spilling the wine...Loving the ride with GigSlutz.
Kate Tittley

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