Darkwater - 1920 (single)

This single was mixed by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, who commented about his involvement with the band; "I get approached all the time to work with bands and 99% of the time I have to pass because I've heard it all before. Darkwater have a sound wholly their own and that originality is what attracted me to them. And the band just fucking rocks!" A huge compliment to live up to and Darkwater certainly do their best to do so.

This band is fronted by “alternative” model, Lora but they are a Glasgow based electro-rock band. Lora was recently voted a Super Vixen by readers of Bizarre magazine. What does that even mean? Perhaps more interestingly, Jagermeister have just signed the band up for sponsorship and with this the band have been booked to headline the White Air Extreme sport festival on the Isle of Wight on 1st September and The London Edge alternative fashion festival in Olympia the following day. It certainly appears that someone somewhere wants this band to succeed.

That is some publicity to live up to and this band falls just short of the expectations I had having read the publicity material. They are certainly polished and it is no difficulty to listen to them, but are they that good? In a word no. They are OK. Passable. Listenable. They are just not that great.

1920 has a video accompanying it that shows the “alternative” model/singer, Lora, in a seductive tussle with a group of bad gal burlesque buddies. That fact alone probably tells the reader all they need to know about this band. They are trying just that bit too hard. If your lead singer seeks publicity to be accepted as an “alternative” model (that is how the publicity describes her), then is this not detracting somewhat from the musical integrity of the band?

This is dirty electro sleazy pop rock and it is not a bad listen. If I was lazy I might compare them to Garbage, but Garbage are better and maybe the only real similarity is that they both have female singers in an electro rock band but you get the picture from the comparison. I imagine this is an NME favourite band at the moment and their publicity machine seems like it will ensure at least some degree of success. I am just left thinking the band are not all that the publicity wants me to believe and whilst they are passable, they are certainly not mind-blowing as it is hoped we would believe.

The video for 1920 can be seen here http://youtube.com/watch?v=RN71ZIu0Xc4 and the single can also be heard at the bands MySpace site at www.MySpace.com/darkwaterglasgow
1920 is out now.

MarkMono · 4th August 2007, 12:34pm

Despite being packaged and marketed to be as generic and inoffensive as possible, it still grates a little that money is being wasted on these one-dimensional jokes that could be going to better and more talented bands.

The Continental · 4th August 2007, 1:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Ian

"I get approached all the time to work with bands and 99% of the time I have to pass because I've heard it all before. Darkwater have a sound wholly their own and that originality is what attracted me to them. And the band just fucking rocks!"

I'll run that through Babel shall I?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Ian

I'll hump a monkey if you give me enough money.

Posh · 4th August 2007, 5:26pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Perhaps more interestingly, Jagermeister have just signed the band up for sponsorship and with this the band have been booked to headline the White Air Extreme sport festival on the Isle of Wight on 1st September and The London Edge alternative fashion festival in Olympia the following day.

Jagermeister don't sign people up for sponsorship but they will grant use of their logo and some random promo shit to anyone who asks for it. It's all advertising for them. You see shitty local gigs that draw five people sponsored by Jagermeister and stuff like that. Hell, I think I was sponsored by them for a wee while.

Most importantly, someone needs to tell that burd she's absolutely rank and that when Bizarre readers vote you a Supervixen it means you look like you have no self-esteem and will be up for titty wanks and anal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxglove

They are trying just that bit too hard.

Totally.

Sorry Darkwater - I'm in a bad mood the night

GoddamnElectric · 4th August 2007, 5:38pm

You say that like there's something wrong with titty wanks and anal.

Posh · 4th August 2007, 7:40pm

Heheh.

I think my point is you don't need to be an attractive to be good for a titwank or an arsefuck.

But I'm not quite sure anymore, I was a bit delirious earlier.

MarkMono · 11th August 2007, 10:43pm

The best feeling in the world is finding out you're wrong.

Still not a huge fan of the music, but they've definitely got their heads screwed on right.

Posh · 12th August 2007, 4:30pm

Why, what happened to improve your opinion of them? I just logged on to my MySpace to find four (yes, four) messages from the band and their manager about my comments on this thread. Pretty silly.

MarkMono · 12th August 2007, 4:37pm

Same, Graham from the band got in contact with me and was so cool about me basically slagging fuck out of his band that I was actually a little ashamed of myself. Not saying I've actually started liking their particular brand of pop and rock, but its good to know that the members are actually decent people trying to eke out a living from the music they love, whatever I think of it.

Have you never had that experience Posh? You meet a band you're playing with on the night, you all help each other out with carrying equipment and such. Everyone is hanging out and drinking together before the doors are even open, really cool people etc. Then they go on stage and they're PISH, do you stop talking to them when they come off?

Also got a rather more snippy message from the bands manager, but after a little back-and-forth that too was resolved.

karbon14 · 12th August 2007, 5:17pm

"if you dont like our music we're going to give you abuse for it" awsome message there.....

MarkMono · 12th August 2007, 5:21pm

No abuse at all, quite the opposite. As I said I felt quite ashamed just by how decent the guy was about it.

The world needs more musicians with attitudes this good.

**Ghostsuit** · 12th August 2007, 6:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posh

Sorry Darkwater - I'm in a bad mood the night

Bad mood or not there was no reason to have a dig at Scott Ian and mentioning his race.

I'm assuming it wasn't meant to be racist as I've a fair idea that would have been the last thing you were intending but it did come across that way, to a good few people. I know not everyones going to love every band that comes along but please atleast try and be constructive.

Dec · 12th August 2007, 6:30pm

Eh, Jews aren't a race.

EDIT: I realise this comment makes no sense now. Posh called the guy from Anthrax a jew.

MarkMono · 12th August 2007, 6:32pm

The thing about opinion writing as opposed to objective journalism is that you don't have to be constructive, you can just throw your opinion out there, pure and undiluted.

And aye, there are far better reasons for ripping on Scott Ian.

Stew · 12th August 2007, 6:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMono

And aye, there are far better reasons for ripping on Scott Ian.

Supergroup being pretty high up there on that list, I'd imagine.

As for the band, gave the myspace a listen and it didn't strike me as anything remotely new or different, so Scott Ian is talking pish.

Super Vixen? God, who votes in those polls these days?