CRY - 'Catch The Sun' EP Review

Tracklist:

1. The Illusive Jeremy

2. Paper Cage

3. Shuh

4. Catch The Sun

This EP took me way back. It reminded me of times spent examining every MySpace page for ‘that’ band. What I was looking for was a particular type of indie-rock, music that could sit comfortably between the twisted-pop of Beck and the arty-hardcore of Swedish punks Refused. Eight years on and that search may have come to an end. This is because, Catch The Sun by CRY, comes damn close to filling that empty space.

The first track on the record ’The Illusive Jeremy’ has more elements than the periodic table, a statement that could perhaps be used to describe the whole EP. Listeners will attune to the John Frusciante - like guitar strumming of the intro, only to then suddenly find themselves grooving along to a ‘funked out’ Franz Ferdinand riff and a verse that features a hook so catchy Muse will want to steal it for their next album. Second track ‘Paper Cage’ sounds like Biffy Clyro jamming with System Of A Down and its hard not to bop your head to the bizarre-polka rhythm of the chorus, Mr Bungle fans will love it. Third track ‘Shuh’ is by far the ‘tamest’ track on this record; it’s a slow burner. While it may not be as frantic as the first two songs, it still packs a punch. In short, it reminds me of something you would hear on a Desert Sessions record. The last track ‘Catch The Sun’ takes big chunks of 90s funk-rock, dollops of 00’s Radiohead and throws them in a pot. If one was to drink this alternative-rock concoction in a glass then be sure to sprinkle a dash of Deftones on top, just a tiny amount though.

Indeed 'Catch The Sun' may very well be the first ‘noughties' retro-revivalist record I've heard, which is ironic given that so many of the bands that existed during that time were, in fact, retro-revivalist. This EP takes aspects of the aforementioned bands, mashes them up and serves them up to a post-MySpace generation. This record is somewhat like Muse’s Showbiz, it is full of ideas, concepts, textures and unusual rhythms. A contemporary Progressive Rock record cemented in late 90’s and early noughties Alternative Rock.