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The best kept secret in music
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karmadownload @ Hoxton Bar and Grill
The singer's relaxed melodies float skywards. Synth plocks, zaps, and blows
underwater bubbles. Two guitars have many points to make, reverby flows in
the style of Mr The Edge c/o U2, ringing sustain, delicate jingling, tightly
curled licks and scratchy disco chords. Rhythm sets thrumming bass against
handclap and patter beats, with an interesting foray into bossa nova. These
cheery souls have the following words of advice "Everyone's waiting for the
world to end" and "Can't wait to be on my own again". Echoes of Eighties
outfit Blamanche, Orange Juice, erm Spandau Ballet ("To cut a long story
short") and - with lyrics like those - New Order.
If you liked the indie-dance crossover that started brewing in the 1980's,
Seretone have honed it to perfection. The set grows to a 10 minute
"Weekender" of a conclusion, a crunchy rave epic. This song could be
Nottingham's answer to the Super Furry Animals' wild finale. Seretone are a
musical packet of chocolate chip cookies. Just the thing for the munchies.
- Opposition T
“Seretone are so achingly now, it's as if the radio's been waiting for them to show up."
Nottingham Evening Post - May 2006
“This months ‘Must See Gigs’ – My Chemical Romance, The Killers and Seretone”
Exposed - Nov 06
“Trent FM’s band of choice”
Dean Roberts, Trent FM – Sep 06
"At last I see the point in 80's pop rock music...it is inspiring brilliant music like this!"
Saggy Pants Magazine – Jul 06
"Seretone have produced an amazingly 1980s album without it sounding outdated or obsolete. Perhaps it’s the bipolar mix of incessant nostalgia and incredible forward thinking. It’s an LP of short snappy pop, with bucketfuls of head-noddingly ace songs.”
Nottingham Evening Post - May 2006
“If you liked the indie-dance crossover that started brewing in the 1980's, Seretone have honed it to perfection.”
Opposition T – Jan 06
“Think U2, Duran Duran or Depeche Mode being remixed by Massive Attack or even Amon Tobin or Autechre.”
Left Lion Review – Jul 06
“Sing-along choruses go hand in hand with heavy guitar rifts and echoing synths - at times very 80's, at others, very now.”
Exposed - Aug 06
“This band has a very original feel and by mixing very catchy, punchy rock with the great build ups of 90's dance music, they offer an energetic and emotional live show”.
Nottingham Evening Post - Aug 06
“Seretone seem to have a great talent at producing catchy rock songs that have depth, atmosphere and energy as well as a very original edge and personal sound.”
Saggy Pants - Aug 06
“See this band while you still can. Very soon Seretone tickets will be a hot commodity”
Our Time – Sep 06
- Various
I first saw Seretone about a year ago and was straight away struck by their ambient and powerful mix of synths and guitar rock. This is their first full album and I was itching to check it out so here is the verdict on Secret Robot Romance.
First track Coda Cove kicks in with big riffs, smooth sliding synths and a weird vocoder vocal. The mix of jittering and fairly heavy drums, bass and guitars with the electro vocal and synths that roll over the other instruments with ease, to create a real chilled atmosphere to this song as it builds slowly into the later stages are just a taste of what is to come.
Second track, Mens Rea is more conventional with the clear and catchy vocal patterns from singer Nick kicking in early on. Once again the guitars and synth mix in a very smooth way yet with some great build-ups and interesting synth noises, Seretone keep their songs catchy yet different from any other band I have heard. This song also has some really great and subtle vocal harmonies.
Waiting For The Bombs To Fall is a great track, which shows the variety in Seretone's sound brilliantly. This song has great lyrics as well and the chorus is a sing along classic in the classic pop rock style of Duran Duran yet with that 90's dance edge that gives them a smoother and more ambient side.
As the album progresses their are many more wonderful tracks and Seretone seem to have a great talent at producing catchy rock songs that have depth, atmosphere and energy as well as a very original edge and personal sound.
The songs have an air of dance bands such as Massive Attack or even Lemon Jelly in their softer moments, yet when Seretone kick in they have the power of some of the best rock bands of past and present.
The mix on this record is very impressive, with the instruments showing some great solo moments and yet when all the instruments merge, they create a rich bed of sound, that builds to great musical heights, making this almost perfect pop rock.
This album is full of huge riffs, soaring synths, booming, driving drum and bass loops and real catchy and smooth melodies. It builds and soars, diving between chilled out dance grooves and huge energetic bursts of power and shows a variety of influence and emotion.
Songs like Arguments, Politics and my personal favourite Much Too Late, are huge epic synth rock songs and at last I see the point in 80's pop rock music...it is inspiring brilliant music like this!
It's certainly a sign of great things to come from this Nottingham band.
- Saggy Pants Jul-Aug 06, Nottingham Music Review
Gregory And Eric + Dust Bunnies + Dirty Kanvas + Lois + Seretone
@ Glo Bar (Trent Student Union)
31/05/06
(extract from)
For those of you who have never checked out the Glo Bar which is situated right in the middle of the Nottm Trent Uni site in town, it is quite impressive on first view. A large stage area, good bar and plenty of room, means that this is certainly a venue worth coming to see bands at and tonight we are here for a fest of local acts which will finish with the mighty Seretone.
....
So to the finale and we are going to witness one of Nottingham's coolest bands Seretone.
With their big drums and trippy synths from the start of their set, Seretone mix huge, epic synths and guitar effects to create atmospheric yet catchy songs.
The clear and punchy vocals keep the lyrics lines strong and catchy whilst the music has masses of depth.
The bass lines hold the songs down whilst the drumming is powerful and crushing giving a solid base for the other instruments to work round.
The guitarist's mix big heavy rock riffs with twisted and flowing melodies which build the songs and give them great dynamic, which is built on even more so by the huge tapestry of synth magic!
This band has a very original feel and by mixing very catchy and punchy rock with the great build ups of 90's dance music, they offer a energetic and emotional live show.
Think U2, Duran Duran or Depeche Mode being remixed by Massive Attack or even Amon Tobin or Autechre.
It is dark, souring rock music with a depth and atmosphere that few bands I have heard on the local scene can produce, if you want to see something that will breath emotion into your bones the way big dance bands do and yet still has catchy rock roots I would recommend Seretone to do just the trick!
- Nottingham EP - May06
With a present like ours, the good people of Nottingham are always looking to the future, and none more so than electronic rock outfit Seretone. August 3 sees the launch of debut album Secret Robot Romance on Organic records where singalong choruses go hand in hand with heavy guitar rifts and echoing synths - at times very 80's, at others, very now.
Seretone play The Social with support from The Tommies and Clarky Cat. - Exposed - Aug 06
Discography
"Secret Robot Romance" - Debut Album - June 2006
"Live Session" on Trent FM - 3rd August 2006
"Live Session" on BBC Radio Nottingham - 11th November 2006
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Seretone are a five strong force born out of Nottingham's energetic live music scene. Formed in 2004, Seretone have quickly developed a reputation as one of the most imaginative and exciting bands breaking though today. Their consistently seminal live performances have recently been transported onto recorded format. In summer 2006 their debut album, "Secret Robot Romance", was released to unprecedented levels of industry interest and praise.
The origins of Seretone were forged deep within the melting pot of the most famous music festival in the world, Glastonbury. A chance meeting among Nick Keen (vocals & programming), Gav Stephenson (bass) and Adam Berman (keys, synths & vocals) led to a post festival reunion. Guitarist and friend, Ralph Frost, joined them and the four set about experimenting with different sounds. The line up was completed when drummer, Jeremy "Did" Strang, lifelong friend of Nick, joined the band. Seretone were born.
It became apparent from the early days of the band when songs were written in small spaces with mainly acoustic instruments that the importance of a melody was paramount. This has been the mainstay of a Seretone sound, which has quickly developed from ambient beginnings, into the fully-grown pulsating rush of twisting electro pop that the band captures today both live and in the studio.
Since coming together, the band has gigged extensively across the UK playing in such illustrious venues as The Garage, London and The Cavern Club, Liverpool. Not only have their performances led to a large and loyal following, but they have been consistently impressing music press, promoters and industry types alike. The result of which has culminated in the signing of a 7Digital online distribution deal with London based indie label, Organic Records.
Modest in their acclaim, Seretone have been described as "achingly now and timeless". They breathe a euphoric high into today's monotonous mainstream. With ambient and powerful mix of synths and guitar rock, their self-invented sound redefines vocoder.
Seretone's songs have an air of dance bands such as Massive Attack or even Lemon Jelly in their softer moments, yet when Seretone kick in they have the power of some of the best rock bands of past and present. By assimilating a vast array of styles from those who have influenced and inspired the band, such as Depeche Mode, The Strokes, Muse and massive Attack, they have created a sound that is both impossible to pigeonhole, yet can be universally appreciated by everyone.
Seretone have a great talent for producing catchy rock songs that have depth, atmosphere and energy as well as a very original edge and personal sound. Instantly comfortable upon on a festival stage, or within the claustrophobic intensity of an underground club, Seretone’s live performances are a cathartic experience.
“Seretone are so achingly now, it's as if the radio's been waiting for them to show up."
Nottingham Evening Post - May 2006
“This months ‘Must See Gigs’ – My Chemical Romance, The Killers and Seretone”
Exposed - Nov 06
“Trent FM’s band of choice”
Dean Roberts, Trent FM – Sep 06
"At last I see the point in 80's pop rock music...it is inspiring brilliant music like this!"
Saggy Pants Magazine – Jul 06
"Seretone have produced an amazingly 1980s album without it sounding outdated or obsolete. Perhaps it’s the bipolar mix of incessant nostalgia and incredible forward thinking. It’s an LP of short snappy pop, with bucketfuls of head-noddingly ace songs.”
Nottingham Evening Post - May 2006
“If you liked the indie-dance crossover that started brewing in the 1980's, Seretone have honed it to perfection.”
Opposition T – Jan 06
“Think U2, Duran Duran or Depeche Mode being remixed by Massive Attack or even Amon Tobin or Autechre.”
Left Lion Review – Jul 06
“Sing-along choruses go hand in hand with heavy guitar rifts and echoing synths - at times very 80's, at others, very now.”
Exposed - Aug 06
“This band has a very original feel and by mixing very catchy, punchy rock with the great build ups of 90's dance music, they offer an energetic and emotional live show”.
Nottingham Evening Post - Aug 06
“Seretone seem to have a great talent at producing catchy rock songs that have depth, atmosphere and energy as well as a very original edge and personal sound.”
Saggy Pants - Aug 06
“See this band while you still can. Very soon Seretone tickets will be a hot commodity”
Our Time – Sep 06
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