Now I hate DIY usually. Okay, I’ll paint the kitchen and maybe varnish things with the old brushes I’ve got in the garage, but Geek Pie Records have something much more interesting than brushes lurking in their garage… This four track EP showcases just what fun DIY can be if you have a little imagination and some rudimentary recording gear.
I’m not sure where to start on this really, other than the fact fun oozes out of the speakers and leaves you imagining the smiles on their faces when they heard it back. The aim of this garage set up is to give local bands an opportunity to get their first recorded material captured and listened to; in that sense the four tracks on offer here for free: Hercules Hold, Earthly Powers, Superman Position and Socialising are perfect tasters of what is out there if you know where to look. Balloons are David Cooper (bass), Paul Goff (drums) and James Marsh (guitar/vocals), and while these songs aren’t especially varied there are some nicely crafted lyrics which cover an eclectic range of subjects from great Victorian inventions to intoxication and most points in between!
Don’t get me wrong, this is obviously not on a par with what recently emerged from Dave Grohl’s garage, but by the same token it is nowhere near the half arsed tat you often hear in low budget studio demos either. You can almost hear the love in this recording; the enthusiasm of all involved makes it well worth a listen, especially seeing as the price is right.
Matt Rhodie
