Sometimes, a really memorable live performance can actually hurt a band. I remember encountering Minor Coles on a balmy June evening back in 2009 and being astonished at their level of accomplishment, despite having only been together for a few months. And therefore, there’s a sense of disappointment that their debut EP, while confirming their obvious raw talent, is often underwhelming.
On the credit side, there’s no shortage of strong tunes knocking around, highlights including the wonderfully lyrical melodic line of ‘Aurora’ and the NME-friendly singalong chorus of ‘My Invisible’. An equally important plus is that their style, though clearly guitar-band indie, doesn’t acknowledge an obvious debt to any particular band or scene.
And yet, the performances are often far from compelling-one mate, overhearing, described them as “a damper version of Los Campesinos”. ‘Take with Lots of Alcohol’ sounds very thin, the double guitars sounding inadequate to the task of matching the singer’s emotional tale of alcohol-fuelled relationship breakup. The odd wobble in the drumming gives the impression that the otherwise strong ‘My Invisible’ has been built above a disused mineshaft, and that continues into ‘Aurora’ which sounds boxy and hesitant, in contrast to the ease and fluidity I remember at the Wheatsheaf in June. Ruben Everett’s singing is often very likeable, but on this particular recording he strays from his usual delicate, easily bruised delivery into uncertainty of tone and dodgy pitching. The song itself is superb, marrying Kings of Leon urgency with a lovely, natural vocal line; it just needs a more confident recording.
‘Black Hole’ also feels like a work in progress. It has some pretty guitar picking and the rhythm section seems much more solid, but is spoilt by some woefully approximate vocal harmonies, like Carl and Pete at their most inebriated. The EP closes with ‘Caroline’, one of the Coles’ stronger tunes, a scuzzily beach-romantic little number which boasts a wonderful opening guitar riff, but probably needs a more disciplined vocal and less hyperactive drumming in places.
Minor Coles are an important addition to the wealth of promising bands kicking around Oxford, and I should point out that they were bloody slow in getting me this record-as I was at reviewing it, to be fair. The band has moved on since these recordings, but I feel they could do with getting an experienced producer on board; they really need a recording of excellent songs like ‘Aurora’ that could take on all comers.