Today I want to introduce you to The Counteracts, a collaboration
between Simon J. Biscoe and Doug Smith, based in Kent, UK.
They have been making music
together since January 2015 and vary between their own and cover songs. Their
first album "The Curse Of The
Counteracts" was released in 2018 and now the second album is out
"Caricature"
The
Album:
"Caricature
(Intro), what a great start for the Album, after the first
tones you look forward to more.
"Spanish Fly", a
song you want to dance to and the castanets fit perfectly, I like the very
harmonic backing vocals in this song.
"Life
Is Unreal", one of my favorite tracks. A harmonious melody and
very well chosen lyrics. Fits perfectly in this time where everyone wants to be
young and hip.
"Love
Plays These Silly Games", a song about love and everything
that goes with it, good and bad. Well sung with a groovy piano riff.
"Hold
Me Tight", after the first few bars you already bob your feet,
"Strange
Girl In My Dreams", a silent song with a great sound
and a very nice guitar solo, I like especially the part of backing vocals they
do in this song.
"I Can Never Win", a song with a wink, humorous yet with a more
serious background, the melody, paired with a few reggae influences gives a
good flow.
"A Place In My Heart", another wonderful love song, coherent
lyrics and great vocals, reminding me of the Beatles.
"The
Disenfranchised Blues", a
critical look at the different parties and the election fatigue of the people,
a very political song in blues style.
"The
Love That Dare Not Speak It's Name",
sad song about lost love, which
shows that the Duo can also strike quite serious notes.
"Incurable
Romantics", my second favorite song from the album, I love the
lyrics and the catchy melody.
"The
Witches‘ Waltz", more spoken than sung and performed
great, kinda spooky and I love when the verse passes into the choir.
"Whistling
All Alone", again a bit calmer with fantastic instrumental
elements and a great solo in it.
"Caricature
-Reprise", makes the album end as it begins, absolutely worth a listen.
With their second work, Simon and
Doug again managed to produce a fantastic album.
Songs that life wrote, sometimes
sad, often funny and with a touch of humor. It never gets boring to listen to the
great voices of the guys and and the way they deal with their instruments. A
successful mix of lo -fi and Brit pop.
You can really find all moods here and all this accompanied by catchy melodies,
very good lyrics and absolutely harmonious instruments.
Highly recommended and I am sure
you like it as much as I do.
Links:
Written by Martina Doerner
