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The Music
Leeds Rocket 24/5/2001

A third sold-out Leeds date for the UK's latest finding, The Music, and this time it doesn't take a guest DJ appearance to bring in the crowds. Tonight, following a debut single release that sold out in 48 hours, the Rocket is most certainly full on merit. A mixed crowd shows how the band's dance-guitar nature has widened their prospective audience: there's the obvious attendance from record labels representatives, local and national bands, newspapers, magazines and fans, uniquely added to by some stereotypical club goers.
What The World Is Waiting For?



"Please welcome the best unsigned band at the moment, a band that are now the latest signed band at the moment", announces Steve Lamacq before we're treated to half an hour of visual and musical effects that do the Rocket sound system proud. Effects are the major factor in the band's music - the multitude of samples intersperses an intriguing amount of guitar effects. There's an early Verve and Stone Roses feel about them, a definite vibe and a major progression over the last year since their Insense days. The vocals are an addition to the form of the music; at various stages throughout the set there are no obvious lyrics, Harvey is just using his voice to extend and elaborate on the guitar dance show before us.

What makes their music so fixating is there's very little in the way of structure - its very freeform, but this does have a downside. Each song blends into each other like a hazy late night at a summer festival with a plethora of dance beats and guitar riffs. You can recognise the single, but from those less die-hard amongst the crowd, The Music can be criticised for having a limited diversity in their current selection of songs. The old adage - "it all sounds the same" - springs to mind. Nothing instantly stands out as being the next single, or even advances from the current one.


A thoroughly enjoyable set from a band that may well capture the hearts of many an indie and dance fan out there, as well as one or two of us who experienced this pre-baggy sound the first time round. Tony Wilson's 13-year cycle theory certainly seems to be holding its own at the moment. Especially when a wise man says to me, "The Music are so blatantly derivative of 70's prog rock".

However, whilst the music is being revisited and revamped, can I ask just one favour: can we not re-introduce the annoying Manc' hand-shaking dance. Please.

Written by Dave Sugden
© 2001 leedsmusicscene.com