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Message BoardText Box: Got the album? Please leave your comments Text Box: Join the Contrast mailing list Text Box: This page contains reviews of our current album ‘Right Equation’. Please see our releases section for more information about the album.   Feel free to email us a review of Right Equation. (Please ensure that negative criticism is constructive)! Text Box: This page contains reviews of our current album ‘Right Equation’. Please see our releases section for more information about the album. Feel free to email us a review of Right Equation. (Please ensure that negative criticism is constructive)! Album ReviewsText Box: Review from www.messamusic.co.uk - 17/6/05 The first thing I have to say about Contrast’s CD ‘Right Equation’ is that it has grown on me a lot since I first heard it a couple of months back. My initial impression was that although being a talented sounding band their songs were a bit ‘same old, same old’ with nothing overly special coming out of them. However after playing it though several times you really start to get a feel for the music and Contrast’s sound. At the moment there seems to be a lack of 60’s influenced bands who write their own material. Sure you get the rounds from bands who play the classic covers such as ‘The Kinks’ and ‘The Who’ at your local pubs every week, but there’s rarely bands in this genre who produce their own (in the bands I come into contact with). Despite this Contrast have recorded this 10 track album with many cracking tunes on it. If you’re a fan of any old 60’s or 70’s rock-pop groups then you’ll be a fan of this. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of this era of music, but I am none the less a fan. In my collection of CDs I do own many Kink’s CDs, as well as The Who and The Beatles. Musically I think ‘Right Equation’ is excellent, with some great guitar solos, flowing bass lines and beats that really hold the track together nicely. The vocals add a great focus to the music, especially in ‘My Religion’, with female backing vocals adding that extra something. ‘Right Equation’ is also a CD that I find makes you want to smile, it’s full of bounce and character which would be great live at any party or venue. My favourite tracks on this have to be ‘My Religion’, ‘Catalogue of Life’ and ‘One Broken Heart’, purely for the fact that they stand out more than any of the others. They also seem to have that certain something about them which I can’t quite put my finger on, so I’ll have to put it down to the fact that I have a subconscious reason for it (or just my personal taste). The part that lets the depth of my review down is that I don’t have the taste for this music that I should have to be reviewing it. Whilst I can analyse it musically and how it appears to me, a true fan of this period might view it completely differently. This is where it falls into the subject of ‘everyone has different opinions’. The best bet is for you to get hold of a copy, or visit one of Contrast’s shows and make up your own mind! Still, at the end of the day I thought ‘Right Equation’ was very impressive, and the more I listened to it the more I couldn’t fault it… ............................................................................................. Review from www.sohostrut.co.uk - 4/4/05 ‘The Contrast’ are a 60s influenced mod band from Kent. They are a talented bunch of young geezers with a strong sense of classic pop melody, mixing it up with punchy crunchy power pop mod tunes. Through ‘Right Equation’ I hear the influences of such bands like The Jam, The Beatles, Phil Spector style pop sounds, The Small Faces, The Kinks, even hints of the maverick band The Flaming Groovies. ‘Time Machine’, ‘You’re Trying To Take My Girl From Me’, ‘Shout It Out’, ‘Red Light’, ‘Catalogue Of Life’ and ‘Loaded Gun’ highlight the dynamic side of the band, crashing along with big chords, driving bass and booming drums. The soulful vocals and catchy choruses push these powered tunes through, great stuff. On the flip side, songs like ‘Story Teller’, ‘My Religion’ and ‘One Broken Heart’ showcase the bands ability to do fine jangly Phil Spector style pop with a rush of sugar coated melodies and great pop choruses. ‘Just do it’ is a moodier song more akin to some of the mid 60s nuggets tunes from the USA, a very fine tune. This variety illustrates the band willingness to be hard and soft, aggressive and melodic without ever overcooking it. 'The Contrast' are a band brimming with ideas, ability and are definitely a band to keep an eye out for. ‘Right Equation’ is an extremely enjoyable self-released debut album, and for those that dig 60s influenced mod pop I’d recommend you buy the album off the band. Jonny Magus. ............................................................................................. Review from anonymous??? 1/12/04 Time machine: The album kicks off with a fast tempo, heavy-beat thriller. Each band member introduces themselves as if they are trying to be the number 1 act ….. thumping drums with crashing cymbals ……. thundering bass riffs …….. and high-energy guitar. The Contrast sound and ability of each member is demonstrated in this 3 minute, in-your-face tune, based around a catchy riff. You’re trying to take my girl from me: The second song follows nicely on from the first, indicating that this is not going to be a one hit only album (and Contrast are not going to be just one hit wonders). The musical ability of each band member can be witnessed here once again. Storyteller: One of the slower songs on the album, this tune sticks in your head for ages. Based around a simple guitar riff, the song tells the tale of a storyteller, (someone who tells a lot of tales)! The melody is top class, and the vocals come through well. Shout it out: Up a gear again …… another guitar riff, with a sing-along chorus that literally has you …… well ….. shouting it out. The backing vocals singing the words of the title give the song an upbeat 60’s feel. The song pauses half way through, only to come crashing back in with an aggressive guitar solo, over the sturdy basslines and drum beats, indicating that each band member is passionate about their instruments. My religion: This song is a classic. Enveloping bass and guitar riffs progress through the first part of the tune, before the drums enter and the song elevates to another level. The chorus is heartfelt …… an ode to music ….. preaching the idea that music is religion. Female backing vocals give the song a very ‘Motown-gospel-soul’ feel. The Hammond organ in the background compliments the tune, creating a massive sound of joy and hope. If ever you are feeling sad, listen to this song and you’ll forget what you were sad about. This is one of those songs that you never want to end. Red light: A very Kink-ish riff introduces the next number. Midway through the song, everything goes quite ….. and then loud again to keep you guessing. The guitar wah effect gives the song something slightly different. Catalogue of life: This must be played loud …. no …. louder. Catalogue of life is a highly energetic rocker, about a family buying their child from a catalogue. Every part of it is pushed to the max …. the screaming vocals …. the punchy basslines …… the crying guitar notes ….. the harmonic organ ….. and the free-flowing drums …… creating a massive sound of musical chemistry. Just do it: Another very catchy tune, which introduces itself as a medium paced, atmospheric, melody, with clean sounding guitar fills. The chorus lifts the song, and then it reaches another level during an instrumental phase, involving the drum beats doubling up in speed again and again, into a massive crescendo. One heart broken: A very different song. This is a slow, soulful rock ballad, demonstrating another side to the band. The ‘contrast’ between this song and some of the others on the album is quite noticeable. A melodic chorus leads into a guitar solo that makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise. Loaded gun: The album started with a fast-paced, energetic number ….. and the album finishes with an equally loud, equally big tune. Again, each instrument is played to its limit, with the drums thundering in at the beginning of the song, with a guitar slide intro to signal that Contrast are here. The song has a very live feel to it, and is nearly six minutes of mod-rock that may just blow your head away. A false ending leads the way into a finale of crashing ….. crashing …… everything ….. with copious amounts of feedback. This is not for the feint hearted. ............................................................................................. Review from Kev (Mod in Scotland)- 16/10/04 I came across these young guys quite by chance and with me being a mod music lover decided to get the band's CD, and im not dissapointed. Time machine is just simply amazing with its guitar riffs. Pure mod pop. Theres 10 tracks on the bands cd and there aint a bad track there. Each song is just excellent. My religion has great female backing vocals from Gemma Dand. The girl is a credit to the guys. I myself was impressed with her vocals. Listening to contrast you would be taken back to the early days of The Jam. Close your eyes and listen to contrast. I cant say any more about the cd. Just do yourself a big favour, buy the cd, you will not be disappointed. Hell I wasn't. Im looking forward to the guys new cd. My personal favourite tracks on the cd are time machine, story teller, my religion [with Gemma Dand], red light, one heart broken and loaded gun..but altogether a great package of mod/pop songs. Good luck guys. From Kev.