COURTESANS
“BETTER SAFE THAN SOBER” EP
Album Review By Rachel Tooley
9/10
The Courtesans are an upcoming girl band from London, who are currently breaking all of the boundaries in the world of rock. Their rebellious attitude is affecting their music in a liberating way; showing us that women can embrace rock music just as well as men… And their new debut EP proves it. They describe themselves as ‘suicidal unicorns on smack’, and when you listen to this nauseating list of new material, you will understand why.
The first track of the EP, ‘Feel the same’ has a real urban street vibe through the intro of the song, due to the rap style of the vocals used in the beginning and then throughout each verse (she’s no Gucci Mane but she certainly does a damn good job)… I found this concept really unexpected but very appealing. I love how experimental the track is; an unusual fusion of rap and rock which will free you into a pit of emotional desperation. The atmosphere of the song is very controversial – a female voice, which should be seen as innocent and vulnerable, is turned into something much more powerful, androgynous and daring. The pleading lyrics really start to rip those warm feelings from your body and will leave you with an unconditional heartache. ‘John Doe’ is a much more mysterious, relaxed track. The low, seductive tone of the vocals in this song make it feel much more dramatic and heavy. The underlaying beats mixed with spine tingling riffs of the guitar sound uncomfortably satisfying. The heavier instruments used towards the end have a very Evanescence vibe, and you can really tell that these girls know what rock music is all about. ‘Knowhere’ is the third track on the album. The track has been very cleverly put together; with a title playing on words and a musical composition which could be perceived as a piece of melodic artwork. The pure attitude of the track brings raw power to awaken the mind and get your shoulders swinging. Boyish, rebellious characteristics, which shape the track, work really well with the heavy beats of the drums and the exceptional variety of vocal tones and paces. The song has an unusually upbeat vibe for something with such a cynical sound. You can easily grasp a more positive outlook on the tune, even though the first impression you get may be more like a wave of intimidation and feminine authority. The next track has a much more vein chilling introduction, before forcing you straight into a rush of intoxicating rhythm. A great track if you really want to express the rage that’s been bottled away inside you. ‘The Tide’ is the final track on the EP, and is one that will really blow you away. Vocals that feature in the track seem very eerie and cold, compared to some of the others on the EP. Throughout the track, you can hear the development of skill that the vocalist holds, as a wide variety of tones and styles are fused into one song – something that many artists often struggle with. The seductively appealing lyrics delve deep into your mind, bringing back a sense of nostalgia. The music is telling us a story by highlighting more youthful situations and emotions, whilst urging your body on to rock and move with the tune.
This EP is really one of a kind. I really enjoy seeing girl groups embrace the rock genre and manipulate it into their own style. ‘Better Safe Than Sober’ is an EP which is full of variety and experiments; something that music is really all about. From this small collection of tracks, it’s easy to pinpoint the potential which is lying in the wings for these girls, as they have such a unique outlook on rock, instead of your classic male influences. This band is really one to watch; it’s invigorating to see women making a comeback on to the rock and roll scene, and I’ll be waiting for their next release with great anticipation.
TRACKLIST
Feel The Same
John Doe
Knowhere
Mesmerise
The Tide
https://www.thecourtesans.org/
https://www.facebook.com/thecourtesans
https://twitter.com/the_courtesans
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