City Reign - Number for Street Names

by Dixie Ernill

published: 9 / 12 / 2011

Label: Car Boot Records
Format: 7"

Infectious indie rock, which collects together the highlights of their first three singles, on new EP from Manchester-based band, City Reign

Review

Adopted Manchester band City Reign have been gradually building up a positive head of steam over the last couple of years with local pop picker David Sue having already run a full page article on them in the influential Manchester what’s on guide 'City Life'. A trio of excellent singles have also been released in the last 12 months to worthy critical acclaim and on the strength of such plaudits the band played their first gig on foreign shores recently when they played in Amsterdam on bonfire night. Their new EP neatly collects together the cream of those early single releases as the band embarks on a short tour to promote it. Opening track 'Making Plans”, which had been the debut single, is a fine slice of guitar pop in the vein of Little Man Tate, while 'Sleep Easy' is slightly darker sounding but equally impressive. The slow burning 'The Line' dips its toe into the lodge marked ‘Puressence’ as it builds into anthemic territory and live favourite 'Out in the Cold” could easily have been the song that put Shed Seven on the map in the early 1990’s with its infectious hooks. Final track, 'Anywhere Anyway', the most recently recorded song, has a more acoustic feel bringing Chris Bull’s vocals to the fore and highlighting a fine resemblance to Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble. Having seen the band play live recently they can certainly cut it and even if they are still finding their feet at the moment they have all the tools to craft further great songs. Their debut LP will be one to watch when it surfaces next year.