National Snack ‘Apply Machine EP’

(Own Label)
Released: 08/12/08
Music-zine Rating: 7/10

They’re described as ‘North London’s Mungrul Music Trio’ dishing up rock ‘n’ roll for the disenchanted and excitable. On first inspection duelling skin heads and a bolshy sometimes arrogant female lead vocalist might suggest Right Said Fred meets Pink. On closer inspection however of the trios vocals and melodic, consistently energetic instrumentation leads to something completely different, not quite two plus two equals four, more like five and then some.
A song writing partnership for some time now, vocalists Gemma Storr and Joe Carlo have a natural talent for crafting openly honest lyrics in an appealing ‘say it how it is’ fashion that is a hit in the current climate. Opener ‘Mischief’ hits with a gritty melody, growling harmonies and the true spirit of classic 80’s rock and Steve Tyler. Forever alternating drum patterns pounded out by Phil Casey on sticks evoke the feel good factor that so much of National Snacks music possesses. ‘My Head Hurts’ starts more like a barn dance or ho-down before erupting in to mayhem, whilst ‘This Is Not Enough’ and ‘Soho’ show the softer side to the bands rough and ready approach to music dishing up a sunny, feel good elixir to brighten the most over cast of days. With rounded, softened instrumentation where there was a jagged all out attack and accompanied by positive lyrics and mellow vocals the band show their alter egos and diverse abilities as a unit.
Working on their debut studio album out later this year the trio see 2009 as an important year. Although finances are tight the band are never short of creative trains of thought and are self funding the album by selling small squares of advertising space on the back cover, a novel approach indeed.

www.nationalsnack.co.uk
Matt Clutton