Conquistadors  - On Tape EP

    Daring with sounds is a rarity from most artists but the reason for making music for Birmingham band Conquistadors. Well whether truly the reason or just a cool bonus for us, it is what the foursome produce with relish. They understand sounds and how to make which on the surface appear are random noises work perfectly within the structure of their compositions. I have always been a lover of bands that bring that discordant array of sounds together ever since the emergence in the mid 80’s of The Fire Engines so it is a real joy to find Conquistadors continuing those ideas with their forthcoming third EP ‘On Tape’. Shamefully not having come across them before I feel a loss and from hearing this 7 track release it is something I will be rectifying right away.

    The ‘On Tape EP’ begins fully after a brief intro with the track ‘Black Swans’ which upon the opening disarray of scaling notes gives notice of what is ahead. It is a delightful slice of indie pop kind of like Hot Hot Heat with balls and some real inventiveness and taste of adventure in sound that the Canadians have never discovered. I use the word pop loosely as they and their music are truly rock of the highest order skirting at times punk and more so progressive rock but this track is maybe the most accessible to many people who like a lighter formula approach. The progressive sound is fully on show with the 6 minute slightly jazzy grooved track ‘Homework’, maybe for me slightly overlong but never dull and always intriguing, something all tracks can be labelled with. The guitars of Adam Jaremko and James Sharp are exceptional throughout the track and the whole EP, more than once rivalling anything At The Drive In or Mars Volta, renowned for their musical ability in this genre have created. The bass and drums of Oz Powles and Andy Palmer respectively create an inventive framework of rhythm for the adventurous sounds to mould to and the twin vocal attack of Sharp and Powles are great instruments to compliment the overall sound rather than simply lead it. 

   Fourth track on the release ‘Oh, Luxembourg’, is an aggressive attacking clash of noises starting out with a punky and almost metal front line slowly mellowing as the song passes through its movements and fights for the best track on show. The ‘On Tape EP’ has the added bonus of a remastered version of ‘Bake Your Cake & Eat It’ from their last EP and it is the track that grabbed me most of all, a simply wonderful piece of sound that defies you not to have at least 2 parts of your body grooving as you listen. There are also a couple of remixes, one of ‘Homework’ remixed by Simon Irving of Tin Can Radio, under his solo-project pseudonym Inspired Insomniac and of ‘Nails’ remixed by Sam Manville, ex-Blakfish and currently in Hymns andGreatest Hits. I am no fan of remixes, just a personal thing, but I have to say the latter track is a neat atmospheric piece of music that had me imagining it as the backdrop to a slow motion desperate historical battlefield with men dying as they fall.

   Conquistadors with the ‘On Tape EP’ have created simply a musical masterpiece in its ingenuity and inventiveness. It may not be to everyone’s tastes; being too out of the box for those liking simplicity in their ears but this is stuff that inspires new musicians to think and try different avenues for their ideas, just for that Conquistadors should be checked out. The EP is released on May 14^th on the Godmonkey Recordings label and the band will tour it so try and catch them when dates are announced shortly. Find out more at http://www.conksmusic.co.uk/ or www.godmonkey.com