| Every so often
a demo comes along that grabs you by the scruff of your neck
and shakes you out of your musical rut. Before hearing Marlin’s
demo, The Killers album Hot Fuss
had been permanently stuck in my CD player for months. No
more though, they have been replaced, usurped and upstaged
by an EP of rare brilliance and originality.
Marlin represent a new
wave of Mancunian bands, mindful of their musical heritage
but totally confident and original in their attitude to their
sound. Marlin are a three-piece band from
South Manchester, with a sound that crosses many boundaries
and styles. Their sound is, predominantly, driven by strong
guitar chords and a tight rhythm section.
The Band consists of Callum
(guitar and lead vocals), Shmoo (bass and
great nick name) and James (percussion and
vocals). In the great tradition of successful trio’s
such The Police and The Jam
their sound is full, powerful and at times beautifully crafted.
After hearing their latest demo I decided to catch up with
these Manchester boys before I became a star struck fan.
I met them in one of their favourite watering
holes in West Didsbury, The Metropolitan, a popular haunt
of South Manchester’s music and media clan and a fitting
place for a band I believe will rise to the top of their profession
within this city.
Every good band needs a team of people
behind them, who believe in the music. Marlin
have this team of people - rolled into one - in the shape
of their manager Dave Roberts. He is the
archetypal Mancunian, straight talking, down to earth and
passionate about the music. His evangelical approach to this
band is refreshing in the jaded world of mass produced, marketed
bands whose sole purpose is to shift units. Marlin
are in the business of moving hearts and minds and such success
always brings the rewards.
So onto the band themselves.
They site their influences as wide ranging
from Led Zeppelin to Tracy Chapman,
Bill Withers to Nick Drake.
It’s a very eclectic mix of tastes indeed. This melting
pot of musical influences has created a sound that is described
by the band as “Soulful, Intense, Catchy and Sweaty”.
They are at the stage in their development
where they are looking to build on a strong Manchester fan
base. Gigging far and wide as well as catching the eye of
A and R men around the country is their next aim. You get
the feeling though, with this group of life long Mancunian
friends, that no matter what happens they will never forget
their South Manchester roots. Good news for those of us who
live here. The band have been pleased with the reaction of
the local music scene to their music. They already have a
reputation within Manchester as a band with a solid fan base
who can guarantee a crowd and a blistering set.
Creatively, they work as a team, with
the lead singer Callum as the hub, composing
the bones of each track. His voice has a soulful but grainy
quality that packs a real punch and makes Marlin
stand out from the rest. Every member of the band contributes
and has their stamp on each track. These are no one man band
but a solid unit forged from friendships long before each
of them picked up an instrument.
When I asked them to choose between the
stage and the studio, their answer was as unified as it was
emphatic. The stage is where Marlin, come
alive. The atmosphere they are able to generate is quite extraordinary.
Their heady mix of driving, guitar based anthems is laced
with some beautiful acoustic songs. You’ll Be
Seen, track 3 of the demo has to be heard to be believed.
It is a timeless classic. Listen to me; I sound like a star
struck fan already. Remember the name people, MARLIN.
Marlin can be seen at
Cuba Cafe on Friday 15th April
and at various gigs around Manchester and London in the coming
months. Check our website as we will be listing all their
forthcoming gigs, as and when they are confirmed.
Words by Spencer
Jacobs
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