Indica High are all sixteen years old and have been together for less than a year. This demo
doesn't meet any of the expectations that those statements suggest. Similarly, the first track
is called Indie Morning and yet sounds nothing like either The Stone Roses or Oasis.
Something's wrong here. To say Indica High sound more mature than their years is something of
an understatement – both musically and lyrically, Indie Morning suggests at least mid-20s.
On second track One More Night they sound practically middle-aged.
Indie Morning is a well constructed effort suggesting that the band might have been neglecting
their homework in favour of practises. The vocals are obviously influenced by the American rock
of bands like Matchbox 20, Nickleback and Pearl Jam. Worryingly, the lyrics ask to "show me
a drug I didn’t take" but honestly, if you didn’t know already, you’d never guess. The track
moves at a buoyant pace and the way that the band put together their bridges and solos you'd
think they were old pros. Very promising.
Second track One More Night is not so good, although it does show that the band are top
musicians and again shows an incredible knack for knowing how to construct a song. Unfortunately,
it's just a bit too slushy a ballad to work here between the youthful energy of the other tracks.
Last track Louise is by far the best thing here and sees the band find a sound that they could
well work on making their own. Fast, jangly guitars and a driving rhythm section form the platform
for the rhythmic vocal line in the verses. A picked chorus line continues the fast paced but extremely
melodic assault later on. The marching-drum-led interlude followed by a squealing solo is another
highlight, as is the fact that the band sound genuinely unique for the first time on the demo.
This is extremely encouraging from a band that are still finding their feet. It will be interesting
to watch their progress over the next few years as, providing they do manage to pin down the sound
they are after, they have the potential to go far.