A new band is always something to celebrate. A group of humans who have come together, united by a common desire to make music, and then proceed to actually produce said music, is a wonderful thing. And when it turns out that the music is really good, well, that’s a bonus. Sixth Day formed in Manchester only 18 months ago (OK, so not brand new…) and quickly got a sold-out live show (Gullivers) and radio airplay (BBC Manchester, XS Manchester) under their belt.
It’s easy to hear why: there’s a keenness – a raw but expertly-controlled energy – to their music. In ‘Down And Out’, that energy is channelled from fuzzy indie rock riffs at the start, through retro Britpop vocals and an infectious rhythmical bounce, to a climactic guitar speedy guitar solo and a quick ending. The result is an adeptly crafted, three-minute, radio-friendly track delivered with panache.
It takes stamina to maintain pace and interest from beginning to end of a song like this, but Sixth Day manage that here with small shifts of riff and variations to the theme. Nothing dramatic, just solid, honest songwriting which will sound great in a grassroots venue and, one day, on a much larger stage, too.
Yes, there are plenty of nods to the band’s Manchester roots, in this band’s guitar sound for example, but they don’t descend into parody or tired Britpop revivalist tropes. This is the sound of five people who have found their musical soulmates and are producing songs to match.
Listen to ‘Down and Out’ here now
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Review by Phil Taylor
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