A new band with a first release for you here, Soulicitors are a four piece funk rock act. They released their debut EP ‘Funked Up Democrazy‘ in December 2011. We finally got around to giving it a spin this month.
‘The Curious Art of Falling Apart’ kicks off the E.P. in a very funky fashion (as the EP title suggests). The soulful lead voice is ably accompanied by a chugging bass and swirling guitar and there are many aspects to appreciate. Whilst we think you can certainly get a groove on to this soundtrack, it ends up a bit ragged. In places there is a lyric too much in some of the lines and the transitions from part to part doesn’t quite sit comfortably.
‘The People’ changes tact a little, more pointed and angry. Talk of a ‘revolution’ and how ‘the people will decide’. This works better despite some of the faults carried over from the opener and the point where the lead singer grunts along to song’s bass lead. The transition to the refrain works far better than ‘Curious Art…’ and surely creates a stir at live shows. That good work is undone shortly after with a break taking all the energy out of the song and leaves it sounding like a damp half-thought.
‘Fabiliss’ is tale of living on the dole. The beat established by the drums is frequently too fast for the lyrics to keep up with. It’s sometimes hard to know if it’s singing or rapping. The guitar solo sits well in the middle of the song but is somewhat ruined by the lead singer groaning over it. The exit of the solo is poorly handled and the song tries to kick up a notch at a point where it just wasn’t ready for it.
It’s ultimately a shame, but a few small flaws ruin this EP. A few tweaks here and there could make these songs really fun and enjoyable. As it stands now, it only just the right side of listenable.