Play 90 second soundbite of 'Lost For Words' @ 'CD quality'
Ok, nobody said it would be easy my boy! Slightly Dazed's demo is just about as unplugged as it gets; unplugged, stripped back, laid bare - a real warts'n'all, home recorded demo of three songs, 'Lost For Words', 'Jam' and 'Go On Then'. Sure, there's talent bubbling under here, sure (aka) Pete writes some decent enough words and gets down to the business of turning them into songs with his acoustic guitar and a few other instruments of choice. And sure, this demo is raw - no not raw, rough; (aka) Slightly Dazed gives it simple, factual, honest - now aint that the truth!! There are absolutely no clever embellishments here, nothing but voice and very simple instrumentation! However, the more I listen, the more I understand! But, most people won't give that time willingly, they want something 'now', something that's instant and more in-the-face, they want to be spoon-fed and don't want to have to wait to learn how to use eating utensils!
Ok, the songs show potential but, right now, as it is, it's all just a bit too jagged, it doesn't flow like it could or should, it needs tightening up and at the moment it's a bit light on energy and vitality. Vocally the guy's got ability but lacks a little confidence, it sounds like he's holding back a little and worried that it'll all come out wrong! Compositionally the songs, as I've already hinted, lack real cohesion, they're just a little bit too disjointed and bitty. Ok, this is only a demo and not a full-blown EP or anything - and as a demo I suppose it might get Slightly Dazed a bit of work on the acoustic scene but I don't think (aka) Pete is really doing himself justice here - the songs are better than this demo suggests and Slightly Dazed's performance is a little too honest for my liking. Perhaps an additional instrument or two would help smooth things out, or failing that, try to iron out some of the untidiness and make it flow with a bit of a groove, put a swing in its 'step', give it some heart and soul.
This demo by Slightly Dazed (or unknown of Worcester) sounds and feels like a 'first-step' work; I think there's more to come yet and it's all about confidence and passion. (aka) Pete should stand back from his demo and listen with open ears and open heart, listen to what others would hear rather than what he actually hears - beef it up, smooth it out, get it sorted but keep it real!!
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