The Lay-Lows: - 'Pick Up and Go'
Track listing:
- Fools
- All For Fun
- Locked Up
- Amsterdam
The Cardiff-based rocking-quartet are back with their third E.P. 'Pick Up and Go'. Released in May 2013, a somewhat delayed response on my part, they have been receiving great feedback from their already-established localised fanbase, as well as those new ears lucky enough to fall upon these sounds. This time around, there is a new, younger bassist Daniel at the helm, but underestimate this change you should not. Upon hearing these new tracks, it was evident to me that the drumming, in particular, was superb. This tight, and now much more prominent, drumming from Dafydd Davies offer a solid bass to the engaging, often dual lead-guitar sound in a Thin Lizzy/Allman Brothers-like 70s sound.
'Fools' opens up the album with a clean bassline, similar to that of 'Camaro' by Kings of Leon, before the guitar and drums kick-in hard, A melody of love, or more broken love, "Who's the fool for falling?" the chorus rings out. An anthemic opening to the new E.P will be greatly received live.
Track two, 'All For Fun', this time opening with drums and then a simple strum of lead guitar, is a somewhat slowed-up down track. The chorus slips-in seamlessly from the verse, a short two-lined structure, featuring the track-titling phrase "The girls stole the thunder from the boys who were blinded by the sun, all for fun".
Track two, 'All For Fun', this time opening with drums and then a simple strum of lead guitar, is a somewhat slowed-up down track. The chorus slips-in seamlessly from the verse, a short two-lined structure, featuring the track-titling phrase "The girls stole the thunder from the boys who were blinded by the sun, all for fun".
'Locked Up' kicks in with a dual lead guitar riff, a classic Thin Lizzy-'Jailbreak' sound emanating. This track is my personal favourite off 'Pick Up and Go'. The dual-lead sound combined with well-written lyrics create a superb vibe. A favourite line of mine "I've never seen a size 16 move like you move when you came out on top" has multiple connotations. This superb track slows down to walking pace two minutes in, and finishes off the melody nice. "Lock up your daughters, I don't want to be alone tonight"...
To close the four-track E.P., 'Amsterdam' has a wonderfully melodic sound to it. With a simple chord structure and harmonised vocals, the band really have tightened the screws and perfected their vibe. The track lifts up after three minutes, with a lead guitar solo breaking through the song's repetition and offers a memorable sound to finish-off this great E.P.
Since the release of this E.P, the Lay-Lows have had a superb month. Supporting Dog is Dead at local venue The Globe was an obvious highlight, and is a great step in the direction to which these boys deserve. Futhermore, they got themselves on the bill for the Welsh festival 'Gwyl Pili Pala' in Swansea. This band continues to impress, and I can't see a next step which isn't onwards and upwards.
