So here we have Joe, Pete, Toby and Dom and collectively they make up Dining with James.

http://www.myspace.com/diningwithjames

According to their MySpace page they hail from Cheltenham and Leeds which, if it’s correct, is a massive distance for the members to be apart and still continue to write some great sounding songs.

I do wonder though if this is why there is only three of them on their photos. That doesn’t matter though, it creates a sense of mystery about the band and we have to remember that music isn’t just about music – it’s about lifestyle with a sprinkling of wonder and fantasy. Would the KLF have been as successful if we knew everything about them at the time? I don’t think so.

I digress though and I’ve just listened to Intro & Safari and what’s interesting about the tracks on their player and the ones they sent me via email is that they are live recordings and show the band in their raw form, and I love it.

This is a band that is growing up in public and my hat goes off to them. They sound like a young Franz Ferdinand with some great passionate drumming, in your face bass and lead / rhythm guitars and meaningful vocals and some lovely rhythm changes giving that afore mentioned Franz Ferdinand sound.

Here we have four young lads and for their ages they’re making a great sound and I will certainly be watching them very closely.

http://www.myspace.com/diningwithjames

The first thing I usually do when reviewing music is visit the MySpace page of the artist or band and listen to the song with the most listens first. The idea behind this is that it must be the most popular song and therefore a great starting point.

No disappointment here with Tom Gee

http://www.myspace.com/tomgeemusic

Tom attends the Leeds College of Music and my impressions of Leeds over the past few months is that it is spawning more musical talent then anywhere else in the country at the moment. I love what I’m hearing and I love Tom’s music. I’m actually nodding my head and I’ve only just realised.

I’m even typing in rhythm – I’m in the groove. The first track I listened to was What’s She Gonna Say and it was a funky soulful song. There is a lot of talent in Tom and he is currently gigging heavily and working with Chris Dawkins who plays guitar and has produced most of Tom’s songs. Chris himself has worked with the likes Jack Johnson and Nightmares on Waxx and his skills lend himself perfectly to these songs.

Tom has an exceptional voice which I could listen to all night. Whilst tapping away at my keyboard two songs have passed Bang Bang and Move a Little and they again display a superb song writing ability. Not just the words, but the melodies and ideas.

However I don’t like to ignore the others that give songs their landscape so big up to Jim “SpaceMan” Jamm on bass, David “Thad” Sudall on drums, David Levi (Smokes) on keyboards and Bridie Burkinshaw & Laura Popperwell providing wonderful complimentary backing vocals.

Wonderful production, wonderful songwriting, superb team of players and something for everyone. If Tom Gee doesn’t get signed to a label soon there’s no justice. He will sell records, sign him and see.

http://www.myspace.com/tomgeemusic

It’s been a few weeks but I’m finally getting round to doing more band reviews and I’m glad to say I’m getting back into the swing with a great band like The Fall of Kings.

http://www.myspace.com/thefallofkingslive

They have a great sound which is quite unique yet familiar at the same time. I would possibly go as far as saying they sound a little like the Killers however I feel they don’t warrant any pigeon holes.

They have some lovely synth textures in their songs, especially Life in the Wire which I’m currently listening to on their MySpace player. I’m not going to bang on about how tight the drumming and bass playing is anymore when reviewing as the quality of music I’ve been sent for review is so high – and The Fall of Kings is no exception to this.

Good Blood has a great hook and those haunting distopian synths again which I absolutely love. I don’t know the band and I’ve never met any of the members but I’m going to take a guess that the synth player is a Numan fan. If not then I’ll get my coat.

I love the guitar riffs in all the songs and the low bass playing. There are no pretentions here, no egos, no one trying to out do anyone else and Dan Forrests vocals are great to listen to, he has a superb tone that compliments the music and vice versa as we can hear in The Hands of Many.

Everything sits together perfectly and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for big things for The Fall of Kings in 2010.

If you’re in the Liverpool/Wirral area where the band are from then you may well catch them live. Check out their MySpace and see when and where they’re next playing as you won’t be disapointed.

http://www.myspace.com/thefallofkingslive

Twin Atlantic is from Glasgow, Scotland, and their brand of music italicizes towards alternative.

http://www.myspace.com/twinatlantic

Each of the four members have been in other bands, Sam McTrusty who is the lead singer and plays guitar was in Arca Felix, that band had a punk, progressive and experimental base. Barry McKenna was in Think: Fire which had an Indie and rock sound and an alternative label stuck on them have since broken up, Barry plays guitar, cello and contributes background vocals.

Ross McNae was in LongStoryShort, they have a pop punk and alternative sound, Ross plays bass guitar, piano and helps with backing vocals in Twin Atlantic. The last member is Craig Kneale; he was in Ernest who played pop, rock and alternative music. Craig pounds the skins behind the rest of the guys. As you can see, when these four musicians got together they each had something different to bring to the amplifier.

They garnered a lot of attention with their first single titled “Audience And Audio” which was available through digital download, they released an EP titled “A Guidance From Colour” it became available for purchase through a CD format and digital download on January 14, 2008. Their next single was called “What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?” and it was a single deal with King Tuts Recordings.

Twin Atlantic have gone back into the studio and signed with Red Bull Records and plan to release a mini album, their producer is John Travis, and he has worked with heavy hitters such as Static-X, Monster Magnet and Kid Rock. If you want to catch Twin Atlantic on tour you will have to travel to the UK to see them. They have played in the states but unless you were hiding in their bearded faces you might have missed them.

Since Glasgow, Scotland is their home they have come from some familiar names in music like Mogwai. This band plays what is called math rock or art rock. The most recognizable name from Glasgow is Franz Ferdinand. Twin Atlantic has been known to play high octane Emo and their stage presence is commended because they play with a fire that has been missing from rock. A cello is heard on “A Guidance From Colour” showing that they can add more to a song than the standard four piece instruments require.

Musical exports like Twin Atlantic look for a fan base everywhere they go, currently they are limited by the embrace of those who haven’t heard these Scots cue up a song. While they are on tour in the UK you can catch them at The Download Festival in June and at The Futures Tent at T in the Park in July. The Sonisphere Festival will host them in August 2009.

To show that they love American music they have been known to play a cover tune such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. They also will play “Fall at Your Feet” by Crowded House. Currently they are playing ten new songs that have not been released on a full length CD yet, some of those songs are called “Atlas Factory,” “Human After All,” and “Lights Out.” They have played a lot of music festivals to get noticed and the buzz is spreading about what a great live show they are. The lead singer McTrusty has been known to stage dive in order to create some great chemistry with the crowd. If you do catch them live and up front there may be a Sam coming at you.

http://www.myspace.com/twinatlantic

Joey & The Big Casino is an offshoot project from Stanley In Heaven featuring the songwriting and vocal talents of Joey Whitehead from SIH and the beautiful voice of Kate Gardner from Godlikegenius.

http://www.myspace.com/joeythebigcasino

I’ve just listened to “3rd Fret” on their MySpace player and I must be honest I was blown away. When it first started I admit thinking it would be guitar and vocals and that’s it. I had no idea it would escalate into a (you’re going to love this description) “rich and creamy” duet with harmonies to die for and a mellow string section. The last song I heard that was as beautiful was Thomas Dolby and Eddie Reader singing “Cruel”

I’m now listening to “Tulum” and yet again it’s a builder. The vocals become more and more layered with alternate vocal melodies under pinning the main performance. There’s even what I call a ‘hidden vocal’ on the very last few bars in the right channel singing something inaudible that isn’t the main lyrics. Tears For Fears used to do this in a lot of their songs and I’ve always loved the technique but you rarely hear it.

Ah, now something that introduces more instruments. “Saltwater” is upbeat with some really nice bass lines and a great melody. It’s driving me mad because there is a recent band who’ve had chart success and sound just like Joey and this song. I can’t for the life of me remember their name – it’s on the tip of my tongue. Maybe someone can help me out and leave a comment as to who it is (It’s the “Kooks” you’re thinking of – Ed)

It’s a great compilation of songs, warming music and a lovely little side project from Stanley in Heaven.

http://www.myspace.com/joeythebigcasino