I’m not quite sure when I first heard KINGSARMS but for some reason I had it stuck in my heard they were a lot more chaotic.
The first track on this new split however defied my expectations; ‘Goodluck Jonathan’ is without a doubt one of poppier songs to come out of Ayr’s independent music scene, it might be a small scene but this shouldn’t matter, it’s a fantastic song and it seems like it could have easily been a hit on a college radio station at some point in the 80’s/90’s in the northwest region of America.
The second contribution the band put forward seems like the KINGSARMS my mind had crafted, ‘Kick You’ presents more energy, more attitude, more angst yet they still have that poppy edge they presented in the previous track.
Lovely Ladies first contribution is the terrific instrumental ‘Yellow Rotten Wolf Riders’, the similarities between the bands begin to emerge on this track, trade the vocals for an instrumental lead and yet they’re not worlds away from each other.
The track hinges upon a grooving riff with a layer of electric squeaks, squeals and squawks freewheeling over it in chaotic symphony.
‘Sad Jams for Sad Hamz’ gives us a taste of Lovely Ladies vocal talents, it’s as angst filled as KINGSARMS contributions yet some strange mixing choices mean the vocals get a buried under the guitars and bass.
Looking at the EP from a big picture perspective this EP presents four distinctly alt-pop ear worms, if KINGSARMS keep heading in the direction they have with ‘Goodluck Jonathan’ it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them having a lot of potential outside of Scotland, while if any of Lovely Ladies other tracks are as interesting as ‘Yellow Rotten Wolf Riders’ they’re definitely worth scoping out; a cohesive EP from two bands hinged on the edge of going to the next level.
Lovely Ladies & KINGSARMS Split by Lovely Ladies & KINGSARMS
Words: Phil Allen
