REVIEW: HERCULES MORSE – EQUINE SIZE COMPARISON (2016)

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MVM approved pop rockers are hung like horses, or something

With the re-release of their brilliant “Edge Of Life” EP Hercules Morse showed everyone that the age of writing acerbic pieces of pop rock circa Honeycrack were not dead, they did a marvellous job of deconstructing social media on it, and that is always to be applauded.

Now a year or so later – this record isn’t out until September 2nd – they are back with another superb little five tracker that proves “Life” was on flash in the pan.

Essentially just building where the other left off, opener “Asleep At The Wheel” locks into a groove in pretty fine fashion, and not many British bands since the much-missed (by MV at any rate) Johnny Panic have had their gift for writing choruses that stick in your head like this.

The other thing that HM do pretty well is not sound like anyone else – sure there’s touches of QOTSA and the odd dash of the Foos, but this is a very British brew, “The Boss” for example, is an anthem for anyone who hates their day job (not MVM you understand) and if that small-town frustration is seething beneath the surface, then “Nobody’s Fool” with its fuzzy guitar lines makes their dreams clear.

At their best Hercules Morse are a very fine band, “Do It Right” – perhaps the product of one of those dreary 9-5 days – feels like something they’ve got as a poster on their rehearsal room wall. “You only get one chance at life” sings Paul Shott, like he really means it and is trying to remind himself

The south coast natives end things here with what is fast becoming what we might term a trademark piece of effortless class. “Chemical Lullabies” is typical of the band, its original but at the same time completely familiar, and as Harry Gardner – who plays some fine lead guitar throughout – soars off, the thought that maybe this is just good time rock n roll comes into view. “we’re taking this all too seriously, so grab another beer” seems to be a key line.

Equine Size Comparison is another fine EP from Hercules Morse. And although its difficult for bands at this level to break through, it would be great to think that this could be the one to raise the profile even further.

But even if its just about horsing around, this is still great.

Rating 8.5/10

 

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