TRACK REVIEW: URF - Night Driving

TRACK REVIEW:

 

URF

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Night Driving

 

 

9.4/10

 

 

Night Driving is available via:

https://soundcloud.com/weareurf/night-driving

GENRES:

Shoegaze; Psychedelia

ORIGIN:

Manchester, U.K.

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The E.P., For the Ride, is available via:

https://soundcloud.com/weareurf/sets/for-the-ride

RELEASE DATE:

4th May, 2018

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THIS weekend is a slightly ‘shorter’…

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one for me but, if anything, more important than any I have had. I should clarify that first remark: the days are not, litreally, going to be any shorter! I mean, in terms of writing, I have less time than I usually would – I have something pressing happening later which means fewer pieces will go online. The second remark, I guess, also warrants further clarification. I have just quit my full-time job – after two years – to pursue the world of music journalism and all it holds. I know it is a risky move – the money will not start rolling right away – so it is a rather nervous and tense time to start, I guess. It is a move I have made following the suffocating and mind-numbing cycle of the workaday life. It may suit some people, who want that routine and safety, but it makes little sense for someone like me, who has a following and ‘talent’, to leave it hidden and lacking profitability. I have, therefore, made the move into journalism and, in a few months, hope to move to Manchester. This brings me to the world of URF and a neat dovetailing of two points: finding musicians who command that sort of risk; the kind that makes me want to dedicate myself to this permanently. Manchester, as I will explain, comes back into the fore. Abbi Parcell, Scott Woodcock; Jack Biggs, Ben Pratley and Sophie Erasmum make up URF and bring to mind a few topics that need discussion. Shoegaze and 1990s-inspired sounds come to mind; I will revisit Manchester; modern love and cynical thoughts; local support and connection; a great band spirit and relationship - I will end by talking about E.P.s and artists who are releasing sensational music. Let us discuss URF in the context of Manchester. It is, as I said, a city I am going to move to and one that holds great fascination. I am seeing a lot of ears and minds turn that way and head away from the capital.

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London is not dry and barren but, if anything, there is a split in consciousness: many are heading further north and finding out what is there. The tensions and political cracks in the capital are causing many to relocate and rethink. That is not an indication of quality and authority: London still holds the sense of dominance and leadership; it is the centre of the British music scene. One reason why people are looking to areas like Manchester is because of the great musicians who are coming from there. The way of life is calmer and less stressful; some wonderful sounds are flowing from the bones of Manchester. URF are one of the finest new acts to come from the city. They seem to take from the scents and physical motivations of the people; the past sounds that made Manchester a legend in music – showing plenty of intent and desire. I will not rattle on like I am forcing Manchester down the throat but I am concerned there are still very few who are going out their way to ignore the North of England. What I am also worried about is how few journalists are taking an effort and representing Manchester in the press. It is the personality of the people that make the music unique and effortlessly strong. You can hear that in every note URF produce. I would like to see more people turning towards the North and concentrating on the music coming from here. I am determined to get more people invested in areas like Manchester because of what they have provided the world of music. The modern scene is vibrant and bustling; there are fantastic venues and some of our finest new bands are coming from here. If we can readjust the antenna of journalism and expend some effort this way; I think we will see more balance and ethical parity.

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URF have a mixture of sounds at their disposal but, if anything, it is Shoegaze and 1990s vibes that stand out. I know Shoegaze started before the 1990s but it started to come to prominence in that decade. The likes of the Cocteau Twins and the Jesus and Mary Chain popularised the movement in the 1980s. It assimilated Rock and American Indie into the work of Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. It carried on into the 1990s but it was replaced by Grunge and Britpop. A lot of Britpop favourites like Blur used the genre in their earliest work. Look back a bit and you can see how the 1980s changed drastically and embraced Shoegaze. The existence in the 1990s was short-lived but it influenced the next wave of music such as Britpop and Grunge. Artists were looking for something with a bit more pizazz and endeavour. Shoegaze has, ironically, come back without any irony at all. The genre got its title because of the way players and musicians would stare at their shoes and were in this trance-like state. We associate the music of Shoegaze with a bit of experimentation, obscure sounds and distorted vocals – some big, weird guitars and a little bit of trip. Listen to the modern Indie bands and you can hear those contours return to the frame. Smaller bands and bigger artists are injecting Shoegaze back into their music. There was a resurgence in the late-1990s but it sort of faltered and flattened by the turn of the new decade. Now, when music is at its most varied and open. Shoegaze is risky because the lack of vocal clarity and dissonance; a rather undisciplined musicianship and something that reminds one of the past – rather than remaining in the present. URF are not all about the fuzz and Shoegaze bliss. There are other elements they bring into their music.

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The band grew up in the 1990s – although they are a lot younger than me – and they integrate sounds of the decade with bits of 1980s and Shoegaze. They have blown away any media expectation and made a stamp on the local scene. What amazes me is they have concocted a sound that has that nostalgia and past glory but is very much based in the now. The guys are not trying to revoke the past and carbon copy any band that came before. I have talked about Manchester a bit and, when you look at the late-1980s and 1990s, you can understand why they would take inspiration from those times. The Stone Roses and Oasis, between them, helped put Manchester on the map. It was a great time for the city and there was a lot more focus put the way of Manchester. Now, the artists there are trying to gain back that glory and sense of identity. Not that they lack focus and strength: the media will only take their eyes from London if they hear something sensational in the city. It is wonderful hearing bands like URF come through and do something incredible. A lot of new bands are a little bit predictable when it comes to sounds and nuance. I am spending more time around solo artists and wonder whether we will ever see a big band revival and sense of promise. It has been a while since we have seen bands take a stand and rule the mainstream. There are signs to suggest things will change and the balance will shift. One of the main reasons I think this is because of the way (bands) mix genres and the connection within the ranks. You listen to URF and hear that sense of passion and commitment. The guys are on the same page, all the time, and determined to get their music to the masses.

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I have looked at Manchester and sort of overlooked the local acclaim they have received. I will talk about their E.P. a bit later but, right now, a hint at the way they have grown and how they have got where they are now. The radio stations around the city have clung onto the band but, to me, there is more promise to be seen outside of Manchester – in respect of radio support. I will talk about that too but, looking at the venues you have up there; so many different chances for the band to get their songs out to the people. The five-piece met amidst the busy Manchester scene and are in the throes of negotiating with festivals. This year is a hot one and they will be desperate to get themselves on stage and playing in the sun. The band has already played some good gigs and are making a name where they are. The likes of False Advertising and URF are showing the sort of intent and energy that is coming from the city. The Alternative scene is a bit tired at the moment; the guys of URF know this and are shaking it up with something more intriguing and fresh. Their E.P., For the Ride, is a compendium of variegated and genre-fusing sounds. They nod to the 1980s and 1990s; the production sounds like the here and now – there is a range of influences that make their music as alive and wondrous as you’d imagine. Their three-track E.P. – the title-track and Say You Don’t Mind join Night Driving – is a statement of intent and declaration from a band who knows what the music scene needs. Maybe the band market is struggling against solo competition because there is still that perceived impression of what is popular and commercial. We have seen enough Alternative acts who produce the same sort of thing. Festivals do need some big-hitters but there is a limit to our tolerance.

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I can emphasise with those who want festival-ready bands that produce epic sounds and great riffs. We have a few out there but, for the most part, there is not a lot of future-promise. I hear some great songs but few that really stick in the mind. If one can mix the festival-worthy rush with something more sophisticated and broad; that would start a new wave of inspiration and promise. I am sure URF will get to the big leagues and hope they manage to get a few festivals under their belt. Tracking back to my chat about local press and bookings; it seems URF are trying their hardest to get under the skin and put their music into the public forum. I think it is hard for any act to get their music out there and make sure it gets the oxygen it needs. Manchester is a great city but it is becoming more and more competitive. I have seen London acts fail and retreat: any big city has its pressures and can be quite daunting. URF do not need to worry like many of the Alternative acts that are coming through. I feel the market needs a revision and sense of clarity right now. Too many bands are honing their sounds to the festivals and what is tired and tried. I would like to see more embrace something more ambitious and deep. URF are making sure they get into the mind and drumming up as much support as they can. They want to get onto the festival stages and show hungry crowds what they are made of. What also impresses me is the way a risk combination of sounds plays out and pays off. I listen to songs like Night Driving and the music sticks in the head. The notes bounce around but one thinks and spikes their imagination when listening. The future looks very bright for the Manchester quintet.

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Think about what artists are writing about and a lot of it sounds similar. You have those who want commercial acclaim and those who want to stand away from all of that. Many songs still look at love and do so in a rather clichéd and conformist way. URF take more gambles and add a sense of cynicism and humour into their music. You hear about twisted love and relationships that are going through the motions. Their wordplay is fantastic and lines stand out. Supplementing that is music that is fantastically arranged and has been getting critics hot and wet. I yearn to discover artists who can bring a sense of wonder and unexpected into the market. We have some acts that do that but we are hitting a bit of a stagnant period. The chemistry present within URF is palpable; they have a lot of affection for one another and want to make music their full-time careers. That desire and clarity translate into the music. They are chatting with promoters and making sure as many people as possible get involved with their music. I know stations like BBC Radio 6 Music – my go-to recommendation – would enjoy their music and there is every chance a song of theirs could get a spin. There are bespoke and perfect venues the guys could play and eager faces who want to lap their music up. I am determined to look at their E.P. and what it is all about but will end on their subject matter and what they are singing about. I note relationships and their trials are part of the agenda. More than that; the guys turn their microscope onto the wider world and looking at what is happening around them. Their E.P. is a commentary on modern life and personal bonds; how we interact and things that are important to them. It is a tight and concentrated trio of tracks and has standout moments. I wanted to look at Night Driving because it sits in the centre of the pack and seems to define what they all about. Say You Don’t Mind and For the Ride are dreamy and languorous; the vocals are swooning and intoxicating; the sound brings your mind to the likes of Cocteau Twins and their ilk. I will look more at the E.P. but was interested in its central track – it is called ‘Nightdriving’ on Spotify but is two words on SoundCloud – and what it is all about.

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You listen to the opening notes of Night Driving and get sucked into a magical world. There is a sense of the night about the strings. You think of moonlight and the solitude of the darkness. You walk along and drink in all the magic and stillness of the music. The band ripples the notes and create a haziness that mixes with a shimmering sense of beauty and a humid calm. That parabond of cold and warm means your head and heart are in different places. I was already thinking what the song is about and conspiring scenes and impressions. To me; I felt, in the introduction, it was about searching for answers and getting out into the night. Maybe there has been an argument and something has happened at home – two lovers clashing and that need for time apart and breath. Another reason why I wanted to focus on this track is because it is largely instrumental. Abbi Parcell has a fantastic voice and is one of the main reasons you come back to URF time again. I have been looking at artists who can do something new with sound and push the limits. From Kamasi Washington and Nils Frahm to Hannah Peel and Jon Hopkins – people who are placing sonics and mood above lyrics. One needs to listen to the whole E.P. to place Night Driving in context – the title slab is a fantastic and moody piece that goes through phases and shows bravery. On a debut E.P., regardless of genre; one is keen to get the voice out there and give the people something visible. Many might fear an instrumental track would be a gamble and see people wander off. The band have told a lot of story in the other two tracks: this is the opportunity for them to see a midway breather and get the audience in a different headspace. You listen to the twanging guitars and the racing beats; the guitars become more concentrated and flowing. The bass drives the song forward and there is a feeling of unrest and contemplation.

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The heroine comes to the microphone and seems to be traversing memorable spots. Maybe she is driving to forget or looking to remember the good there was. Places the two used to meet – lovers, perhaps, who are struggling or on different pages – and all the spots where things used to happen. The dreamy and slightly sleepy vocal sound appropriately scores the song and its visions of the night and somnambulistic concern. Our girl is looking for some sort of clarity, that is for sure. Whether she is struggling in a relationship or trying to find something within her; you follow her plight and get inside her head. The band move the song through various motions and the tone shifts. Little flecks of The Smiths – I forgot to mention them earlier! – come through and the spirit of Johnny Marr can be heard in the guitar. The percussion, at once thudding, keeps the beat and hangs in the background. Various components come to the forefront and then mingle into the shadows. Whilst the music contorts and snakes; there is that consistent allure and sense of the unexpected. There is the “calm before the storm” and the heroine thinks back to the time she fell at her lover’s feet. It becomes clearer that this song is about looking around and wondering what has happened. There is a need for distance and a return to how things used to be. You get invested in her mind and how she is feeling right now. Whilst there is that big emphasis on sound and texture; it is hard to ignore the vocal and how affecting it really is. The entire band is sharp and fascinating throughout. They add chemistry, emotion and colour to every single line. The song is never too packed and busy; you get that wonderful sense of drama and cinema.

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When the song reaches its intense peak; the drumming gets more insatiable and the bass twangs through. The crescendo and sense of explosion come and one imagines the heroine castigating the bad spirits and making a decision to step out alone. You cannot escape the way the band interacts and the understanding they have throughout. The composition is fantastic and perfectly frames the vocal. The song gets into the blood and you let it take you over. What interests me is how the guys have managed to create their own D.N.A. They could have made it vocal-heavy and put a lot of story in it. Instead, you have that balance of compositional texture and vocal revelation. You get a sense of oblique and open-for-interpretation in the music and hear something more direct and obvious in the lyrics. Each listener can draw their own conclusions and have their own visions. I imagined the heroine looking at old haunts and where she fell for her sweetheart. Things have taken a turn and there is an ache that needs to be balmed. The song is never too haunted and heavy-going. One gets the sense there is hope to be found there is plenty of light to be discovered in the song. I was hooked throughout and compelled to see where the story headed. If you listen to For the Ride and how the E.P. ends; you get a bit of a conclusion but can still come to your own conclusions. The Manchester band has crafted a sublime song and one that makes your head spin and mind brew. I have heard the song a few times now and pick up different things every time I hear it. Investigate the band and make sure you study their E.P. closely. I wanted to look at Night Driving because it is the crucial bridge between the sense of lift and tenderness of the opening track and the sense of confusion and heaviness that ends things.

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The guys of URF are on an upward trajectory and determined to succeed. I feel that success will come quickly enough and there will be riches coming their way. They are chatting with promoters and festivals right now. There are many bands hustling at the moment and trying to get gigs lined up for the summer. I know the band will get those dates and their music will spread far and wide. For the Ride is an independent and stunning E.P. that has a connected and natural sound that we do not hear much of right now. There is vibrancy to be found but the band has a more laid-back approach. Some might find that to be an indication of a less focused and interesting viewpoint. Listen to Say You Don’t Mind and the flickering notes and gorgeous vocals. The title cut is a perfect ending and draws you into the music. Each of the songs runs into one another but they have their own identity. I love the musicianship and invention you can hear right throughout. Night Driving is a gorgeous cut and one that seems to show what URF are all about. I have high hopes for the Manchester band and their future. I know they are getting press and fans right now. They are working hard and their press release is great. The band play Night People (Manchester) on 8th June and that will be a big show for them – a headline slot that will get the E.P. out to the local folk. The fact this is their debut E.P. means it is early days for them. For the Ride is something you want to get involved with. The personal and friendly approach of the band – look at their social media to see what they are all about – means you take them to heart and want to see them go far.

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I will start to wrap things up but wanted to recommend people go beyond what is forced on us and listen closely to artists trying to do something new in music. Although URF takes from Shoegaze and have a sense of Psychedelia about them; I can detect a lot of modern edges and unique strands. It all fuses into a steamy and alluring perfume that has turned heads and got smiles widening. I have been listening to their E.P. a bit and swimming through every note. It is a fantastic thing that will get some great reaction when they gig more. Check out all their channels for the latest grooves and happenings of a young army who are doing something awesome. They met among the throng and rush of the Manchester scene; they are one of the reasons why I am moving to the city – seeing bands with that blend of personality and interesting music. I am keen for URF to get out there and see their music get wide and far. Congratulations to the guys for presenting such an interesting and solid E.P. Make sure you get behind them and support what they are all about. It is an exciting time for the young band. I know they will be big names in the future and will get a lot of attention. I wanted to look at the track, Night Driving, because it is my favourite song of theirs. I would urge people to view the E.P. as a single thing and address the tracks in their natural state: a brilliant trio that resonates and percolates in the brain. I will end it here but am pleased I have come across URF and will follow them closely. Night Driving is an accomplished E.P. from a band starting out and testing the water. Even though URF are local promise and looking for festivals at the moment; it will not take long before they start getting…

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SOME huge and vital bookings.  

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Follow URF

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