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Session in Scotland - The Hit List
5 records Vic has right at the top of his record box this week...
Cholo - Demo
Having seen them in Perth as part of T Break (the competition to try and get to play T In The Park), I was given a demo by one of the band members and was suitably impressed, especially by the track 'Mentalist' - also the highlight from their live set. With a cocky (but not arrogant) swagger and slightly unhinged world view (check the frontman's dancing and stage-moves!), Cholo do a Techno-Rock thing that brings to mind 'Exterminator'-period Primal Scream and Cooper Temple Clause but with the metronomic rhythms of krautrock heroes Can and vocal stylings of Shaun Ryder from Happy Mondays - all in all a very exciting rock'n'roll noise that could shake any gig to it's foundations. Let's hope they make it through to T In The Park, then you can all see them.
Also on the Hit List were - Degrassi, Weezer, DJ Shadow & Soundtrack of our Lives
Vic Galloway - www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/session_scotland - 16/05/02
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DEMO REVIEW
CHOLO:ALIVE ON ARRIVAL
At last - Cholo's new demo. And yes, it was definitely worth waiting for. Actually, we've had it a good few weeks but there was a bit of a DEMO LISTEN pile to get out of the way, tempting as it was to let Cholo skip the queue.
SMACK DOWN is a cracker of an opening track - vibed up, in yer face bags of energy and attitude. It's a bit straighter than we're used to from Cholo, but there's still some mad noises and wild vocal processing going on behind the wall of guitar and crashing cymbals.
Second up is GUN DOWN BROKE - a perfect mix of swirling electronic and rock noise with Fraser's distinctive vocals getting the real time effect treatment for the classic Cholo sound.
Finally MENTALIST opens with some cool hollow-sounding keys, more swirling Cholo effects and some fine guitar.
We predicted 2001 to be the year of the Cholo vibe. It was, but it's getting stronger this year and we'd be mighty suprised if the band didn't pick up some showcase slots this year and grab some industrynattention.....and yes, they can do it live too!
Dave Arcari, Music Scene - 30/04/02
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