Screw Tuesday

Band Interview, May 28th 2005 - Brian Banks 3/6/05

During the Speyside Music Festival, I chatted to local unsigned band Screw Tuesday... well most of the band. Apparently the 'magical mystery' bassist Mick was something of a lightweight and was taking a 5pm siesta. Singer KK, guitarist's Pete and Goon, and drummer Kev talked about the festival, the state of the local music scene and their music.

So guys what was it like to open the Speyside Music Festival?

KK - "It was a great surprise, we originally expected to be playing later in the day. There's a complete mix of people here to see it all, from paperboy's to pensioners."

Goon - "The one criticism I have of this festival is that it should be all new music, not covers. If I want to see a covers band then I'll go to a pub."

The festival is certainly something positive for this area...

Goon - "Yeah, it's given original bands in this area a chance to shine. People in this area don't seem to search for new music, really there is a lack of any scene compared to how things are over in say Aberdeen."

Why is the music scene so stale here then?

KK - "There's no feedback from local radio. Local radio is purely chart music. Local radio should be about promoting local business and local music. We saw Multispeed play over on the second stage, they were excellent but they're not getting heard. Most of the new music that is in this area comes from who you know not what you do - its bands helping bands."

Title
Demo 7-track CD

Band/Artist:
Multispeed

Released:
November 2005

Highlight:
My Secret Room


In one word:
Subliminal



Welcome to the sweet and subliminally warped sound of Multispeed - Reviewed by Brian Banks, 29/11/05

I first received this demo a fortnight ago, gave it a listen then left it for a day or two. Then I listened to it again when I found time a few days later. Then I listened to it again. And again. I must have listened to it at least a dozen times at random moments during the last two weeks. Okay, so I guess that's what I'm always like whenever I get hold of some new music, but the fact that I found myself almost unconsciously and sporadically listening to this demo shows the pure subliminal impression it made on me.

So who are responsible for this 7-track demonstration of passive mind manipulation? Well namely; Terry O'Connell (guitar/vocals), Paul Gorazdowski (guitar), Mark Watt (bass) and Paul Ritchie (drums), who are collectively known as Multispeed and come from Banff in North Scotland. This, their first demo, was recorded in 2 weeks by the band themselves in true D.I.Y. style, using a Roland multi-tracker. Terry got in touch with me to ask for a review of the material, and he mentioned that "some of the levels ain't perfect", which is often the case with a self-recorded demo. Demo material is meant to be raw and rough around the edges, and that raw vibe is something that I have a great affection for; in fact it's one of the main characteristics of many of my favourite bands. This demo does what it's meant to, delivering you a full-on raw demonstration of the sound of Multispeed.

The first track on this CD is 'Mother Of My Life', a grizzly dissonance of guitars, drums, bass and vocals all sounding at odds with one another. It gives energy to the song, the minor conflicts in sound create a twisted sub-harmony of discord which gives this song real power. With the second track, 'The Shame', things get a bit darker. The music twists and turns imperceptibly underneath the vocals, sounding completely understated yet still powerful. The basic skeleton of the song is heard with the low-key riffs and beats that accompany the verses and chorus, but it's the other little sounds that come at you from off the radar which keep you interested in what your hearing. The lyrics are sufficiently twisted and dark to go with the music, and also simple enough as to not distract from the vibe of the song, for example; "I burn from the inside, just like a cigarette, my blood thickens, inside my head".

With the third track Ink the whole understated vibe of the music continues. Ink glides with lazy-paced verses and breaks, which weave with sleepy guitar sounds before picking up in tempo for the choruses which climax with aggressive heavy riffs, before things fall back again and get all lazy and hazy. This is what Multispeed seem to be all about, the music looms out of a shadow and cautiously invites you to listen, although at times it can just leap out and shout 'BOO!' just to make sure you are paying attention. Its entirely unpretentious, rather subtle and understated without being placid.

Coming Down is next, which features sample out-takes of the infamous late comedian Bill Hicks, who's brand of thought provoking comedy is still as popular as ever since his death in 1994. The Hicks samples intertwine well with the simplicity of the song, it's quite unusual for samples like this to be used in the rock genre... but then again Multispeed don't have an average rock sound, self-confessing themselves to be under the wide-sweeping label of "alternative". It's hard to pin this band down to a specific label, they certainly aren't anywhere near the generic image that their name conjures up, and I'm not a fan of putting bands in pigeon holes anyway so hey let's not worry about it. In many ways they remind me of The Pixies, and I wouldn't be surprised if this b