Damian runs the rule over a new six tracker from new Welsh band
The People The Poet are a rock quartet hailing from Pontypridd, South Wales.
The band comprises of Leon Stanford (Vocals), Tyla Campbell (Guitar), Pete Mills (Bass) and Lewis Rowsell (Drums).
I must admit that these boys had passed me by and I had to do a little digging to find out about them.
The band have been together since 2008 and were originally called Tiger Please, a change in direction and a name change to The People The Poet in 2012 was a tribute to all the people that have trusted them with their stories. Indeed their 2013 debut release “The Narrator” was three years in the making, the band set about collating fan based stories (which in itself is quite a unique concept) for that release.
So Paradise Closed, a six track EP is the follow up.
“Club 27” is the anthem that Coldplay never wrote. A great song with real sing-a-long lyrics “A place up in heaven” Club 27 can only refer to all the musicians who have exited this life at the young age of 27 as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison get name checked.
The subsequent song ”Matchday” tips it hat to The Killers and is another really uplifting heartening inspiring anthem. It really highlights the diversity and richness of Leon’s vocals backed up by the real powerhouse engine room of Tyla, Pete and Lewis.
“Same Heart” is a more mid paced tune with again some really emotive lyrics shared requesting us to question our purpose in life and how we can improve this existence together for the better of all.
The penultimate track “Needle in a Haystack” deals with the distressing tale of a father who sadly lost his battle to his drug addiction. We get great chord changes and some haunting guitar riffs; the song is very reminiscent of the best that Pearl Jam offer.
Last but not least is “When The Fire Goes Out” and it’s a cracker to finish on. A wonderful ballad, I could imagine an audience illuminating an arena, holding up their lighters and mobile phones to this
I was really blown away by this band and this EP and can’t wait to get to see them blast out these tracks in a live situation. These guys can certainly write and deliver a great tune.
It’s been some time since we had a band coming from Wales that were worthy to carry the flag of the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, but these guys are the real deal.
Rating 9/10
