CD/EX

Musical differences are a bitch. There are always going to be frictions at play within a band regarding the direction the music is going, and sometimes that friction is a good thing, but when the balance tips too much one way or the other, then more often than not it can lead to the band fracturing and losing members.
It's not a new story, it's as old as time itself, and more often than not it gets filed away in the “shit happens” box.
This was the situation with Glasgow's great white rock hopes “The Elvis Suicide.”
In a very short space of time they went from having four members to one.
The last man standing was the founding member, a Chris Devotion.
It wasn't the final nail in the coffin though, as very quickly Chris managed to fill the vacant slots and get back on stage, but something was lost in the process.
From the outside looking in it appeared that the band were in a period of flux and the ongoing momentum had been derailed to a certain extent.
It's unsurprising though.
Replacing one member can be difficult enough, but finding three people to do so at short notice and then getting them to promote a mini album live that they had no input in was always going to be a virtually impossible task.
It just seemed to be that bridging the gap between the past and the future looked to be too problematic, maybe too problematic
So in a brave move Chris just scrapped it all to go back to square one with a new name and a new approach.
Chris Devotion and The Expectations were born.
Or CD/EX if you want to keep it short.
It's certainly been a while, but Chris and his band are back.
I was very lucky to get a wee sneak preview of their forthcoming début single that will be released on Armellodie Records and it has to be said that it has been worth the wait.
The leading track “I need your touch” is a prime slice of garage rifferama. The sort of thing that Jack White used to dip his toe in. The sound of Detroit garage, but with a twist by dint of being whipped into shape by a band who have never stepped foot in the motor city. The b-side of the vinyl single “Pinhole Suit” is another garage stomper. A tale of a dirty dog who can't change his seed sowing ways.
Released Feb 2011 I expect it to garner a shitload of positive reviews.
However if you want to go for the CD release then you will get a couple more tracks by the name of “Come so far” and “Dead Scene.”
Both take the foot off the pedal a bit and provide some contrast to the tracks featured on the vinyl release and show that CD/EX aren't simply a band who would struggle to get out of the garage.
“Come so far” has the feel of late seventies melodic punk rock that is slipping into the post punk sound. There's a hint of Buzzcocks in there somewhere.
Meanwhile “Dead Scene” fantastically grinds proceedings to an end, all chugging rock par excellence.
While others would steer clear from covering kiddy fiddler Gary Glitter I don't think I would hold it against Chris if he decided to break into “It's good to be back. It's good to be back” because it surely is.