Published in Sounds, 6th March 1982
Mood Six/ The Marble Staircase/ The Earwigs | Gig Review | Porchester Hall 1982 | SPEAKING AS a strictly impartial observer, the so far commercially unsuccessful psychedelic revival is neither as good nor as bad as some would have you believe. I’d thought that it had died before it even started, but then along came ‘A Splash Of Colour’, and these three bands from this compilation would hopefully prove that the movement is still alive and well.
The advertisements had promised a ‘High Society Evening In Bayswater’, but we started with something closer to High School in the shape of The Earwigs. Amateurish in the extreme, they crashed their way through a clumsy set which was more heavy metal than swinging sixties while a smattering of new psychos (is that what you call them?) gazed on aghast.
The lead singer’s voice would be more suited to cabaret-type material, because although it was powerful enough to rise above the loud and heavy-handed drumming (no mean achievement in itself) it just didn’t fit the music.
If The Earwigs wish to become less tedious they should make their songs simpler, as too much thrashing in the background only irritates, as do big finishes.
Mood Six | Gig Review | Porchester Hall 1982
The Marble Staircase were a lot better than their name may imply. They veer more towards the pop sound of groups like The Monkees, with their instant catchy choruses and bright brash tunes. They started fairly slowly, with some soft haunting songs, and although the harmonies could have been better at times, the general effect was laid back, as they say.
Later on they up-tempo’d and got a lot boppier, making up for lack of originality in their punchy delivery and enthusiasm. ‘Dark Ages’ stands out as one of their best.
Finally we were faced with a band I was quite prepared to dislike on the basis that anyone who gets as much press as they’ve had but fails to get a record out in their own right doesn’t really deserve more coverage, but again preconceptions proved worthless.
Mood Six were stylish, dressed up to fit the image but didn’t look like prats, and were melodic and professional. They also showed the most invention, taking 60’s music and using it as an influence, not a blueprint for their songs, producing a distinctive sound of their own.
‘It’s Your Life’, ‘The Difference Is’ and ‘Party Time’ were all excellent, smooth and polished, and all Mood Six need to do now is win over a lot more people because at the moment the scene is far too small and cosy to have any real impact.
It’s easy for ageing hippies to knock the revival, and it doesn’t really bear too much analysis, but it’s done for sheer pleasure by people who weren’t around the first time, and you can’t criticise that. (Karen Swayne)
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