After spending several years doing the Leeds' gig scene, Pete Briley has moved back to his native Kent and just signed to new record label Tin Robot Records.
Seeping sentiment, 'Semantics' is an understated ballad with just an acoustic guitar and a spattering of strings. Pete Briley's voice has moments of pure warmth and innocence, but with such sparse arrangement that you need to have slightly more lyrically than we get here. There is also a tendency for the singing to become scratchy; giving the impression that he is trying to imitate Ashley Hicklin in an effort to echo some of his success.
This is a sweet and simple song but it's lacking elements to take it to the next level and make it a masterpiece.
Since the formation of Shakinouts in 2007 the band have clocked up an impressive historic gig list and caused waves in the Leeds music scene. With a slot supporting Shed Seven in December things are certainly looking good for this band.
Shakinouts offer a bouncy and truly enjoyable single with 'Are You Happy!?' The vocals have a beautifully textured quality and a bittersweet chorus you can't fail to sing along to. On the down side, the track is too long; it fails to develop quickly enough leaving the track flat. The production is clever and sharp giving the song a richness slightly missing from the B side 'Fail You Now,' which has a feel of 'Ever Fallen In Love With Someone (You Shouldn't've)' by 'The Buzzcocks.'
'Are You Happy!?' is well crafted and will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling in your toes.
