Turn - Check My Ears

  by Peter Liddle

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Infectious Music
Format: CD

intro

Turn are a hard band to place. You think you've got them sussed and then they open a new song in a completely differently style from the last one, sending you into the type of confused panic that is

Turn are a hard band to place. You think you've got them sussed and then they open a new song in a completely differently style from the last one, sending you into the type of confused panic that is normally associated with bad film soundtracks. Their music is one super big package of rock, folk, distorted noise and even eighties power ballad, and this makes them a very difficult band to easily categorise. The quality and the diversity of the six tracks on this, their first EP, is impressive. This is a band who only started touring this year, and have only released a few singles, but their confidence and togetherness is such they already sound much like they have been around for years. Their sound is very retro-based, and is organised , sensibly orchestrated and also very melodic.The quiet-loud approach of many of their songs is pretty standard, but the intensity throughout is greater. Singer Olly's melodies are just that - melodies, but, fitting directly with his tense guitar playing, they change and twist and roar better than most. There is many an unforgettable phrase in the lyrics. "I never needed you till you made me" and "Why can't you look after yourself" are the raucous end of tune mantras in two of the songs. With such unforgiving blunt lines such as "I want your blood stains off my legs" and "Check her teeth, she's bleeding", many of the lyrics also concentrate on physical pain. It is strange to listen to Turn and to note that they only have one guitarist. They sound like they should have more. It's hard as well to remember the band's one female member, keyboardist Fiona, who, while lending subtle but pleasing help to the vocals on 'Berreta', keeps a low profile throughout. Turn despite this rock in any which way they can on each song. Tunes might start or end quietly, but at some point, Turn will be taken by the urge to rock with loud guitars and powerful lyrics. It is quite appealing to hear this sort of thing, because you're never left with a repetative song. At some point each tune will burst out of its shell to give you that extra edge. This EP is just the beginning for Turn. At the moment they are writing their second album, even before their first is released. I'll be interested to see what this diverse band will do next.

Track Listing:-

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