Sound Stripe CD - raw edgy mix of British Indie with Punk Rock

Reporter: Malcolm Journeaux
Date online: 21/10/2006

I first heard Sound Stripe last year when they performed live in Rochdale and I was struck by their curious and unlikely sounding mix of minimalism and raw energy. The band sound really is quite a mixed bag, crossing British Indie with Punk Rock; their influences are equally wide and varied, from the obvious White Stripes, The Jets and The Vines to the less obvious Pink Floyd!

Regulars on the Manchester unsigned music scene, Sound Stripe have released a three track CD entitled 'An Ordinary Man'.

Littleborough based vocalist and guitarist Paul Wright explains that the influence for the first track came from: "hearing the 'Great Escape' by 'We Are Scientists', a band from New York with a love of off beats and crazy rhythms, who have become big in England but seem unable to break through in their native America".  

For me the first track is classic rock that will remind some of Led Zeppelin, but reminded me more of Black Sabbath at their best with the only thing missing being someone in the Tommy Iommi mould screaming over the top, but nonetheless an excellent opening track.

The second track 'Home Grown Blues' has a good bass beat and is a song that goes down really well at gigs. The minimalist feel does transfer well enough to CD, but to do the song real justice, I would advise going to listen to this one live to hear it at its best.

The last of the three tracks, 'My Own Man', is for me the best of the three and a real fusion of influences, a lot of Sex Pistols punk - minus the over indulgent snarl that tended to overwhelm the Pistols talent - but also reminiscent of The Doors, and the melody has a definite Oasis feel to it.

Commenting on the recording Wright said: "Recording was a blast! We did it up at Studio Studio in Whitworth and engineer Pete Troughton is a legend.

"Following the lead of the White Stripes, we take a very simplistic approach, there’s no layering of other guitars, what we produce on CD is what we produce on stage."

Sound Stripe, with their raw edgy sound, are a genuine alternative for those who are fed up of manufactured Indie-Pop.

You can listen to all three tracks and make your own judgement by visiting:

• www.myspace.com/soundstripe

Sound Stripe is a four piece band:

• Paul Wright - Vocals/Guitar
• Matt Hall - Guitar
• Jeni Holt - Bass
• Joe Holt - Drums

• 3 November, 8:00PM, Jackson’s Pit, Oldham
• 9 November, 8:00PM, Off the Wall, Chester