Cross Wires are an East London/Essex based four piece consisting of Jonathan Chapman (Vocals) Peter Muller (Guitar) Pete Letch (Bass) and Ian Clarke (Drums). The band have built up a great live reputation playing at some of the best venues across London including The Old Blue Last, BIRTHDAYS, The Victoria Dalston, Camden Barfly, Sebright Arms, The Garage, Islington Academy, Queen of Hoxton, 93 Feet East, The Dublin Castle, Notting Hill Arts Club, The George Tavern, The Half Moon Putney and Tooting Tram & Social. They have recently released their mini album ‘Living In A Radio City’ which was recorded at Lightship 95 in East London and produced by Rory Attwell (The Vaccines, Telegram, Palma Violets). Many of the tracks from the album have been given radio plays and gained support from the likes of Gary Crowley at BBC Introducing, Georgie Rodgers at Virgin Radio, Charlie Ashcroft and Shell Zenner at Amazing Radio and Tom Robinsons Fresh On The Net.
‘Living In A Radio City’ is an exhilarating album jam-packed with enough quick jabs of feisty ballsy punk to cause a riot. From the scrappy fierceness of opening track ‘We Call The Shots’ these guys demand attention and announce their raw punchy sound brimming with crashing guitars, pummelling drums and attitude driven vocals. The boisterous ‘Walking Wounded’ and the Kasabian- esque ‘Machine 7’ displays their anarchy soaked melodies slapped on top of jagged razor sharp trigger-happy guitars and neck snapping bass lines. While ‘I Want Radio’ shakes things up a bit disguised at the beginning as a 60’s rock and roll tune with foot stomping drums and bright jangly guitars before exploding into a true raw punk rock anthem. This track was made for the sticky blood thirsty mosh pits. ‘Slow Waves’ features a slick bass line acting as the sublime rampant rhythmic backbone of the song while this snappy track shouts and punches with harsh edgy riotous punk rock. The album is a relentless assault of punk fury. The tracks are quick, snappy and rowdy yet completely consuming and energising. This four piece have compiled eight tracks that inject adrenaline into your veins boosting you with brawling stamina. So much energy surges from this album you will want to run around the room for hours just to burn it off. ‘Fanzines’ is the perfect example of their mania causing sound while ‘Modern Art’ cools the tone slightly giving a little breather to the madness. With funky guitars and a rich rhythm it’s shimmy ready and a glimpse at the cooler, swagger soaked side to Cross Wires. ‘Pink Dogs’ closes the album a little chilled with spacey guitars and an aerial tone scattered on top of a melancholic melody.
Cross Wires know how to write some intense tracks that pack a mighty punch while displaying raw energy and charisma through feisty instrumentation and sublime catchy melodies. They blend seamlessly between strong assertive soundscapes with meaty drums, crashing guitars and fiery vocals to lightly breezy soundscapes with some rock and roll hints. They don’t just make punk music they create the Cross Wires experience of kick ass frantic tunes and slick innovative musicianship.
Stream ‘Living In A Radio City’ below
