Mooch

EP _ Flick The Bean

Play 90 second soundbite of 'Flick The Bean' @ 'CD quality'

Wow and bloody wow again, when you look at these 'guys' and read about their ages (average just 16!!) you could be forgiven for thinking that Mooch won't carry the load well enough on such young shoulders. Wrong, oh so wrong!!! This six piece from the Stourbridge area have oceans of talent, acres of ability and tons and tons of potential - and boy, can the carry that weight! Mooch do their own take on 'old-school' rock; loads of ballsy riffs, stacks of grit, power and punch and a full-on beefy assault of the senses, through, it has to be said, some very impressive playing. Quite where and how these 'kids' learned all of this I just can't fathom. I can only assume that there's six sets of parents out there that've offered motivation and inspiration from their own music collection coz Mooch are just something else!!

To say that I'm impressed with this EP is a massive understatement; I love the interplay between guitar and keys, the rhythm section is absolutely solid and vocally there quite a thing goin' on. Surely these 'kids' have had help with this!! Surely they can't be that bloody good already!! Well, it seems they are!! Instrumentally, everyone plays their part with assured confidence, vocally the two 'singists' work sensationally together and both have the confidence and maturity to do it individually too. The songs are superbly structured, magnificently crafted and stunningly executed. It's scary though coz at 16 these 'guys' are demonstrating real maturity and mind-blowing confidence. Bloody hell, the two Duracell batteries in my wireless mouse have been around nearly as long as all this lot lumped together!! Mooch have steered clear of the youthful electro-pop and the like that so many their age are tuning into, preferring instead to walk a well trodden and well proven path and taking on the raunchy, blues tinged, rock of ages - I, for one, am glad they've chosen this route, Mooch make rock sound fresh, alive and inspiring.

If Mooch stick together and build on this performance, they will surely be a huge force to be reckoned with - I can only see success and stardom for this fantastic young band just as long as they keep on doin' what they're doin' and keep on growing and striving for perfection . And, here I think I should introduce the individuals to you; hey, these could be names you'll be seeing a lot more of if things work out. Ok so, Mooch are Ross Syner (lead guitar), Harvey Champion (vocals), Angie Holmes (vocals), Laurence Jepson (keyboards), Mike Hobin (drums) and Greg Wallace (bass) - what a superb outfit Mooch are and what a performance they give here. By the way, answers on postcards please for the meaning of 'Flick The Bean'!! Tracks on this outstanding EP are, 'Flick The Bean', 'Don't Give Me Love', 'Harlot In Black' and 'Black Galleon' - four really impressive songs written jointly by Ross and Harvey who show that you don't have to be old and weather beaten to write great songs. Together Mooch make it happen, they sound like 'old hands' and they even manage to get some real soul into their performances. Really impressive, really, really watch out for Mooch - this is a band that might just be able to cut through the crap and make it onto the bigger scene. I certainly hope so anyway and I wish them luck. 'Flick The Bean' by Mooch sounds way beyond their tender years, it's extremely professional, impressively tight and just a real ray of light. Fantastic stuff!! ( Oh, I hope Mooch don't fall foul of the plagiarism laws for the track 'Harlot In Black' - there's a great rip-off of Peter Green's 'Oh Well' driving the piece - and why not!!) Bloody great work Mooch - I hope you get the plaudits you so richly deserve.

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