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Liverpool indie pop/rock four-piece Life at the Arcade have recently released their debut EP, From the Basement, last Friday. The EP was conceived by the Liverpool band when Paddy Clegg (guitar/voclas) and Adam Holmes (lead guitar) put their heads together creating the foundations of the songs included in the EP in the Adam's basement (hence the name ‘From The Basement’).
The band, since forming in 2015, have gone from strength to strength and have gained a reputation as being festival and gig favorites with their jingle-jangle clean-cut, professional-sounding indie pop/rock sound. Even before release, two of their tracks, which we will reveal later have received numerous plays on BBC Introducing and one has been awarded This Feelings Track of the Week.
Life at the Arcade, LATA for short, have got in touch asking if we'd review the EP which we were keen to snatch the EP out of their hands and have a listen. The EP cover for the release is a vibrant fuchsia with a trippy central image of an open door hinting that whatever is in their basement is as vibrant as their cover and could be just as fun. Lets delve through the door, down into the basement and see whats on offer.
LATA have chosen the track Little Lies to see in their EP offering. The synth presence is strong with this one from the start, but used in a way to give the song a fresh intro. The song then goes onto prove itself as a more rock sounding track when it reaches the chorus. The middle break tones everything down with echoing vocals, giving the song great light and shade. The tempo gives a good foot tapping beat. As the song reaches the end a great guitar solo makes the song rocket to the stratosphere. Overall, a powerful track to start the EP and easy to see why it has been gobbled up by BBC Introducing for airplay on their show.
Home Alone, the follow on from Little Lies provides a unique sounding intro with a simple guitar riff which will be stuck in your head by the end. The band doesn't waste time in then introducing a powerful performance vocally and from all instruments. The song keeps up the temp from their previous track incorporating a foot tapping beat, but then takes it up a notch when the chorus comes about. The break towards the end and build up thereafter is phenomenal and when it reaches it peak it finishes leaving you wanting more. A powerhouse of a song full of unique sounding guitar and well-sung vocals. Clear to see why it has been This Feeling's "Track of the Week".
The third track then lulls us into thinking the bands have tamed their sound and made a stripped back track with just a guitar and resonating vocals in a small room maybe, but 20 seconds in the song Time comes into force with the full band. This is my favorite track of the EP so far. The track resonates Catfish and the Bottlemen at their best with the powerful vocals, lyrics and band performance, emanates The 1975s top ranking tracks with its clean indie pop sound and pulsates a beat which even Years and Years would be envious of leaving your foot tapping and will surely get anyone dancing at any gig. Overall, this track is the strongest point of the EP in vocals, band performance and feel.
They then leave us with Wonderland a track with a vague retro sound, akin to pop throughout to 80s ala Duran Duran probably due to it having synth dotted throughout. The band add their own spin on things and with the inclusion of harmony for the vocals and resonating guitar solos the song has an amazing feel to it which gave me goosebumps. A song to be proud of and an excellent choice to finish the EP on.
From the Basement is as good as a debut EP as you could ask for full of diversity and prowess. The release gives the impression the band are They've set the bar high for any future releases and we'll be keeping an eye on them.
LISTEN AND DOWNLOAD FROM THE BASEMENT BELOW
Follow the band and stay updated on their future releases, gigs and more at the links below: