War Machines of Love - Submarine

  by Helen Tipping

published: 21 / 4 / 2007

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Review

This is the band of ex-New Model Army guitarist Adrian Portas, and it shows in the opening of 'Submarine', the guitar introduction of which could grace any New Model Army number. But that’s where the similarities stop. Lyrically and vocally it’s totally different. This may have more to do with Portas being allowed to express his own style of playing in New Model Army rather than him importing their style. 'Submarine' has vocals overlaid on a droning repetitive backing that works quite well, although I’m not sure that Adrian Portas’s vocals are as strong as I would like to hear on this track. 'Mobile Home' again is not reminiscent of New Model Army at all. Musically it reminds me of the Bomb Party and 90's era grebo style music. Again I’m not sure his vocals are suited to the style of music. 'Vultures of the Soul' is a thoughtful acoustic number. This has guest vocals by Chris Kimsey, Andi Sex Gang and Kim McAuliffe of Girlschool. Whilst Kim provides the standard backing, Andi’s addition is more wailing and gives this song the spooky quality that you might well expect from him. It has a Celtic sound to me, not all fiddles and songs about Whiskey, but more Scottish sounding and this time the vocals do fit well with the style of music. I don’t think they’ll be setting the world on fire with this single. Their style isn’t fashionable enough nor do any of the tracks really grab you by the throat, but it’s enjoyable in its own way, although I found 'Vultures of the Soul' to be the best track of the three.

Track Listing:-

1 Submarine
2 Mobile Home
3 Vultures Of The Soul