People say the days of real live bands creating their own music are dead, but not in the case of Cheshire based band Thick as Thieves. They began life as a solo acoustic project for college student Sam Platt, an avenue in which he could articulate his feelings towards adolescent life today. With mild success and local gigs getting bigger Thick As Thieves self-released a debut EP - Pass Down The Wine showcasing a collection of their earliest, acoustic recordings. Since then, they have added Aaron Walker on drums and Oli Myers on bass giving them a fuller and much more accomplished sound, which has only served to help them attract more interest from local record labels. After gelling in their new line-up they have headed into the studio to lay down new recordings, of songs off their debut collection, and some other new additions which form their self-titled new EP - Thick as Theieves.
With songs sounding much more polished and of far higher quality, Thick As Thieves is a massive step up from their debut and displays all the talents that the band possess. From the riotous crowd pleasers such as Night Club and Pass Down The Wine to the wonderful acoustic track Hung Up, where Platt shows his more gentle and lovelorn side, this EP is full of twists and turns with many different approaches all being given the characteristic Thick As Thieves stamp.
Opener Night Club perfectly encapsulates life as a teenager today with no money and lots of energy - It grows from a muted guitar intro into a full blown rock classic, which many much bigger acts would be envious of. Second song Pass Down The Wine is a summer soundtrack everyone can relate to. Worries of an empty wallet are discarded, stating ‘Pass down the wine and things will be fine’. Live, it is a song the band enjoys playing and that is not lost on their fans who obligingly sing it back to them with gusto. If any song is going to help propel them to the big time Pass Down The Wine could certainly be one of them. The third track on the EP sees the band take things down a notch with Never Again, an acoustic ballad about a failing relationship with Platt musing on being caught in a catch-22 situation where his heart says yes but his brain says no. This song begins part of a mini concept album mourning, missing and finally moving on from a failed relationship. With Lost My Girl, they step up the tempo again, lending heavily from bands such as The Ramones, The Jam and other classic punk bands. It also signals the first glimpse of Platt’s impressive guitar skills with the first solo on the disc.
The EP is brought to an end with final song Hung Up. A track which brings down the curtain on the relationship, fondly remembering the times they spent together but with the recognition of a need to move on. Featuring the album’s best chord progression, Hung Up could be Thick As Thieves’ most impressive and moving moment.
The EP as a whole showcases the ability to write catchy songs that touch on subjects which so many can relate to, and this is one of their greatest talents. They sing about real life and don’t gloss over how things are. With Sam Platt’s gritty eloquence and the solid rhythm section, Thick As Thieves are on the cusp of making it. Give them a listen, you won’t regret it.
Download Lost My Girl and Pass Down The Wine for free at http://soundcloud.com/thick-as-thieves-uk/