Redefine
Reviews
The
Daisychain Cycle
(Sugarshack)
In the twelve months since their first single crept
out, this teenage quartet have gone from complete unknowns
to a "heard of 'em, never heard them, though", but you
would be doing yourself a massive - and I really do
mean massive - disservice if you let this staggering
début album slip you by. They've cast their influential
net wide, taking in everything from the infectious grooves
of Incubus to the all-out rage of early Deftones, and
come up with an LP which will knock your socks into
next week.
Although 'Solid State Of Effigy' sucks like a baby on
a nipple farm, everything else on here, right from the
brilliantly reworked 'Seven By Seven' to the oddball
electronic noodlings of 'B===D' all glue together to
make the most enjoyable, listener-friendly record of
the year so far. Ian
Distort (9/10 ) march 2002
Redefine
The Daisy Chain Cycle
Those hard-rocking metal munchkins are going great guns
since we featured them in Synergy #20, and are as we
speak busy putting the final touches on the mix of their
spanking new debut longplayer. And judging by the promo
copy we at Synergy Towers managed to extract from the
clenched fist of Mike Darby at Sugar Shack, it's on
track to be something of a runaway success.
Formed 1998, Redefine are already regulars on the rock
gig circuit and no strangers to venues like the Louisiana,
the Fleece and the Bierkeller, despite their, ahem,
youth, and the Daisy Chain Cycle is proof of their musical
maturity. From the pent-up emotion of Boy Monkey, through
the scream-till-your-throat-bleeds shoutiness of A -
z Of Internet Dating, to the could-be-Bond-theme Seven
By Seven the Redefine chaps are well on the way to redefining
rock. Just listen to the experimental stylings of Solid
State Coffee Drinker and 8=D if you don't believe me.
Chris Mitchell, Synergie 8/10
Redefine - The Daisychain Cycle
(Sugarshack)
Redefine sound nothing like you would imagine them to.
They are all under 20 and hail from Bristol. But this,
their debut album, is sure to cause a stir amongst rock
fans, because it Rocks with a capital R O C and K.
With the resurgence of British rock from the likes of
Hundred Reasons, Lostprophets et al, Redefine could
be the next UK promise. This is such an accomplished
debut that is kind of scary to think would they could
potentially produce in future years once they have fully
mastered their trade. Vocals courtesy of Pete Daplyn
are full of equal measures of emotion and rage, and
the backdrop of breakbeat DJ-ing and sampling, a wall
of guitars and pulsating drums make this one of the
best debut rock albums for a long time.
They sound like a super mix of many American highfliers
- from Deftones, to Garrison (on tracks such as 'Solid
State Effigy') but more rightly Incubus - but being
British and with a very distinct sound to really make
it on their own merit.
If you don't hear more from Redefine soon, then I guess
everyone has given up on rock music and dance music
has taken over the world. Which would be a real shame,
as Redefine are a band you should want to hear.
This band could and should be huge.
www.onetomanydjs.co.uk
REDEFINE
' THE DAISYCHAIN CYCLE ' ALBUM
1/2 page picture album review in Rocksound issue 36
- out Sat 20/4/2002
4/5 rating
Its sometimes reassuring to know that not all quality
albums have to be the product of Mr Major Label with
oodles of money to splash around on marketing campaigns.
Good music can come from alternative sources: the
small labels, with their fingers on the underground
pulse.
We've already seen this with the likes of Liberty
37, Earthtone 9 and Vacant Stare coming through from
the undergrowth - and now Sugar Shack Records from
Bristol have given us Redefine to add to that list.
Following on from two critically - acclaimed singles,
'The Daisychain Cycle' is a powerful debut that leaves
you aghast at how good this band are.
Having been ready to dismiss the quartet as Placebo
- wannabes after the initial singles, 'The Daisychain
cycle' clearly shows these youngsters to be proficient,
confident and artistically creative, and much more
than mere clones of more-established indie rockers.
Admittedly, songs like 'Cypher' hint at old Brian
Molko's irritating vocal whines, but others, like
the electronica-tinged pop anthem 'Boy Monkey', and
' Seven by Seven', which harks back to Smashing Pumpkins
at their heaviest and bleakest moments, show Redefine
are in a league of their own.
Not a million miles away from Muse (without Matt Bellamy's
hideously-excessive operatic croons ),Vex Red, Silverchair
( vocalist Pete Daplyn could easily front a Siverchair
covers band, such is the likeness of the two at times
) and hottly tipped noisesters Mahumodo, it's hard
to pick fault with this debut release.
That is, apart from the directionlessness of the electronic
instrumental ' 8 ===D', which comes across as rather
unfocused. But hey, that's a tiny fault in an album
that should see Redefine pick up plenty of new fans.
DARREN
SADLER ( FEATURES EDITOR )
Rocksound
Redefine : Thedaisychaincycle
Sugarshack Records
Seems like
there is a bit of a rock revolution going on here
in the UK. Acts like Lostprophets and Hundred Reasons
seem to be at the forefront, but just behind we have
Autonomy and Number One Son. Now you can add Redefine
to that list.
Redefine aren't doing anything radically different
or that much the same, but they do stand out from
the crowd of wannabe rock stars. They seem to posses
that sense of melody needed to break through onto
the radio and the nation's rock club floors with standout
tracks like Seven By Seven and Jennifer Cried screaming
to be played loud and begging you to hurl yourself
around the room into inanimate objects for fun - and
that is a key word here, as the band certainly sound
like they are enjoying the recording process.
The production (handled by Matt Sampson with the band)
lets the songs breathe freely enough to soar from
your speakers. The drum sound is good and the guitars
are clean, and they sound like a band in control.
Perhaps the only drawback is that they don't have
a killer song - one that sticks in your mind all day
after hearing it - but what is evident is that we
have twelve really well crafted rock songs to contend
with, and for now that's plenty enough.
:: JJ Starr
www.shakenstir.co.uk
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