Ormondroyd - Hit and Hope
by Helen Tipping
published: 21 / 4 / 2007
Label:
Hackpen Records
Format: CD
intro
Atmospheric and stormy debut album from increasingly confident-sounding Sheffield band, Ormondroyd
Ormondroyd are from Sheffield and comprise of Ollie Birtill (vocals & guitar), Steve Mills (guitar and vocals), Rob George (vocals, keyboards & synth), Nick Portus (bass, vocals, synth, flute) and Gash Hill (drums & vocals). I warm to the CD straight away with its pictures of Sheffield lit up in its bowl of a centre at night with the Hallamshire Hospital dominating the view, which taken by my former work colleague and fellow Pennyblackmusic writer, Denzil Watson. Opening track 'Wenceslas' is an instrumental which builds up with Christmassy jingles to a crescendo and then winds its way back down again. As an introduction of what to expect in the way of music, it's a good start. The second track, 'DDD' has vocals followed by thrashing guitars which come to an abrupt stop as if it were being downloaded and paused. Ormondroyd play atmospheric music, which builds up and fades back down again like a summer storm. And as if in recognition of this the final track on the album is called 'The Storm'. They seem to have matured quite a lot since I saw them at The Grapes in Sheffield a couple of years ago, sounding more confident in what they are doing. I wonder if they still take the sock dryer with the spoons on it on stage. There doesn't seem to be any sign of it here. Although there are a lot of thrashing guitars they are not above slowing it down to almost a ballad, as the acoustic music and gently sung lyrics of 'Quick Run' demonstrate. Even when the guitars and keyboards come in at the end it doesn't speed away from them. Other slower tracks are "El Potential' and 'If I'd Known It Was the Last Time I'd Have Opened Both My Eyes...." a poignant tale of regret. The fast and furious ending reflects the deteriorating mental state of the rejected one. 'The Storm' as previously mentioned, builds to a storm like crescendo and then stops suddenly. This, however, isn't the end of the CD, for the patient listener (or someone who whizzes ahead on their computer CD software). There's an extra track on the end. A rather folkier sounding number, and with me not having all that great a knowledge of Ormondroyd I have no idea what it is!
Track Listing:-
1 Wenceslas2 DDD
3 Perfect Designs
4 Eyes On The Road
5 Quick, Run
6 Turn It Over
7 Given Time Those Hearts Will Crack
8 El Potential
9 Scarlet
10 It's Gone Too Far
11 If I'd Known It Was The Last Time I'd Have Opened Both My Eyes
12 The Storm
13 Untitled
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart