New Talent
Cusack

Cusack are Lance Baldock and Dave Seccombe a couple of Essex geezers who have been gigging and writing songs in many different guises for ten years or more. The current incarnation of has risen from the ashes of the four piece Cusack where Dave was merely the bass player. Luckily the band split and Dave's talent as a songwriter was discovered.

The duo have been playing regular dates in their local Leigh on Sea hostelry and the 12 Bar Club in London. They have been recording hundreds of demos and on the evidence of the four songs on display on their latest, surely a proper release is deserved.

The lads take two songs each and harmonise perfectly on each other's tunes. First up is 'Can't Be Told' one of Lance's and is a slide guitar driven country pop song which is crying out for some banjo picking in the middle. 'Car Keys' follows and again it's one of Lance's. Here one is reminded of 'Anchorage' by Michelle Shocked, but not to the detriment of the quality of the song. Again there's an undoubted country feel to it but in a Jayhawks style.

In contrast to Lance's widescreen jaunty alt country pop Dave gives us 'Brightest Day' a piano lead mid tempo ballad. Dave's vocal has a richer English sound to it, bringing Elvis Costello along to Lance's Mark Olsen. Before Dave's second offering we are treated to cover version Cusack style. 'Black Coffee' was a hit for British R 'n' B four piece All Saints. And here it's given the acoustic treatment and shows itself to be a quality song when not sung by four B list celebrities more famous for shagging real stars. 'Mess With My Head' is the final song and is Dave's second offering. It's again an intimate plea a girl unknown who appears to mess with his head. Again the song has an undoubted Englishness to it which marks out the Dave's songs from Lance's. It's this definition as well as the quality of the songs that I feel will make for a rewarding full-length release.

Cusack online: www.zingg.co.uk

The Vessels

The Vessels are a London four piece who have just released an e.p. over there to some critical approval. 'Hang On To Your Love' is the opening track and is an infectiously catchy song that will get inside your head for days. 'Don't Waste your Time' follows and this time there is a definite Byrds flavour to it's harmonies. Like it's predecessor there is something that gets lodged in the brain that means you will find yourself returning to the song subconsciously again and again. Gorgeous.

The final song on the disc, 'See You Home Straight' is another acoustic bliss out. Here there's weariness to the song that evolves into an annoyingly familiar but gloriously hungover refrain that finishes the song and indeed the disc beautifully. With the current appreciation of the song thanks to the so-called New Acoustic Movement you would hope that a band like The Vessels have a real chance and on the evidence of this e.p. they fully deserve a chance.

The Vessels self titled debut is out now on BMG and two tracks are being streamed on their website.

Vessels online: www.thevessels.co.uk

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