Rising from the ashes (pun intended due to musical orientation) from such acts as Screaming Banshee Aircrew, Rubella, Dr Vampire, Lily Gun and Nosferatu amongst others Partly Faithful have been getting a fair bit of notice in the very gloomiest of places live. In fact in early days they had members of such legendary acts (well to me) as The Batfish Boys, Christian Death and Altered States helping out on guitar, with that in mind they must have been taken fairly seriously. Apparently they don’t like the term ‘dark’ and go as far as to say they will give it a bad name and kick its arse and then throw the words ‘art-rock’ at us. As for the G**h word, well perhaps I best not even dare utter it here.

The four tracks (5 if you count a silent 15 second Pause For Applause at the end) showcase strong things to come from the fairly new band. Songs are catchy, quirky, quick to embed themselves on your psyche and at times even quite fun. The skeletal chords of the opening title track certainly take me back in time and remind of various familiar black clad families. There is a mournful feel to things and the Joy Division post punk vibe drenches this melody wise over the incessant croon of singer Ed Banshee. As it progresses it would be nigh on impossible not to mention Bauhaus in reference to both music and vocals but what’s so bad about that. If you are going to sound remotely like anyone you may as well make it the best and the fluttering bat like guitars of ‘Needles’ just adds to it all. This is a bit more upbeat and in the face and it has a rocking chorus and real sharp jagged edge about it. At times the vocals here remind of John Lydon and musically that guitar rhythmic thrust everything from Leatherface to Thatcher On Acid, which kind of takes things firmly out the G**h zone.

I can see the arty reference to the sound of ‘The Worm Within’ it has a bit of a carnival feel to it along with some flamboyant solo guitar spirals. It’s all very avant-garde and a little bit theatrical luvies and it certainly gets feet a tapping and heads a nodding along. Last track is ‘So Happy’ and yep like a play on words it sounds suitably miserable, a bit like a clown who is a manic depressive. It allows the gloom to ebb through and the soft weep of the guitar, slow drum rolls and floaty crooned vocals all work bringing together a deadbeat at dawn ending along with the feeling that an album is going to be a very interesting prospect indeed.

The EP can be purchased fully signed complete with a set of badges from the website below and the group are supporting ex Bauhaus bassist and Love And Rockets muse David J on Nov 3rd at London Electrowerkz. I guess we are some way off of being able to say that due to being Partly Faithful the band are splitting up. Let’s hope it’s a long time before I have to use such a dreadful pun.

(7/10 Pete Woods)

http://www.partlyfaithful.com