Common Tongues
EP: Tether & Twine
Label: Dawson Breed
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.commontongues.co.uk

Brighton in the 2010s seems to be getting the same sort of buzz about it as the likes of Liverpool and Manchester just before the millennium and one of the bands that are definitely on that wave are Common Tongues. That said like Alex Patterson, the band have made their way to the South Coast from Cambridge or at least core elements have.

The band have already had a top five placing in the Isambard Folk Award and have just released their debut ep, "Tether & Twines" which incorporates the band's first single, "Solitary Thinker", which has already garnered the combo, positive feedback.

The band tend towards thoughtful and insightful songs delivered in a rich tenor, often wrapped in well balanced harmonies. Powerful would b a good adjective to cover the delivery. These are songs and words demanding that you listen to them.

Much of the music has a real percussive feel to it, staccato guitars supporting the drums in creating driving rhythms to fuel singer and songs. "Tether & Twine" is not an ep of meek compliance, this is a recording that stands proud and says, "This is what I am, get used to it!"

Whiist there are definitely aggressive angles to the presentation, it's held neatly in check so it doesn't dominate. "Cold Is The Devil" is the song that features the line that gives the album it's title and, in my opinion, Common Tongues have saved their best for last, exiting on a real crescendo that's already starting from quite a high point.

Neil King