Royworld: Man In The Machine
Royworld: Man In The Machine
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Wednesday, 21, May 2008 10:12
Virgin Records, out May 19th.
In a nutshell...
Epic uplifting anthemic melodic rock
What's it all about?
This is the stirring debut album from Royworld, a British rock outfit who are enjoying the first taste of success with lashings of radio airplay and a busy summer of gigs and festival appearances at V, Bestival and Glastonbury.
Who's it by?
Royworld formed at Goldsmiths College in London in early 2006 when songwriting brothers Rod and Crispin Futrille put an advert on a college noticeboard.
Guitarist Rob Parken, keyboardist Tim Miles and drummer Gerry Morgan replied. Within weeks the band were playing three pub gigs a week, taking in the Dublin Castle, the Barfly and the Hope and Anchor among others.
Following a gig at the Purple Turtle in Camden, Royworld were signed to Virgin Records. Now they're receiving airplay on Virgin and Capital FM not to mention being featured on Dermot O'Leary's seminal Radio 2 show and they've been Jo Whiley's Pet Sound on Radio 1.
Indeed, they recently returned to their spiritual home in north-west London for a storming gig at the Camden Crawl.
To read the inthenews.co.uk review of the Camden Crawl show, click here
As an example...
"I wish you were here/I'm caught in the sound/The one thing I know, I couldn't recall." - Brakes
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Good God, yes! Royworld fuse Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush and the catchy, lyrical nous of the New Radicals into a superb timeless brew that exudes that transatlantic appeal which serves immortal bands like the Eagles so well.
What the others say
"Royworld's unconventional positivity, coupled with their intensity and musicianship has made them one of the most distinct and disarmingly unique bands in a very long time." - Tiscali Showcase.
So is it any good?
Royworld's big sound evokes memories of bunking off school to listen to your friend's big brother's Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush albums on a stormy May afternoon.
There's a fantastically infectious energy and confidence that soars out of this band that makes you fall in love with melodic indie rock all over again, more than filling the void left by Embrace.
Just listen to tracks like Science, stunningly majestic title track Man In The Machine and the sheer lust for life in Brakes and nifty current single Dust.
Singer Rod Futrille's voice can do passion and vulnerability effortlessly like Gabriel and Bush, all wrapped in an honesty that touches your heart.
His vocals gel with Parken's powerful guitar work while Miles' keys and Morgan's drumming amp up the soundscape to the nth degree.
Royworld's music is wonderful escapism grounded to all too human emotional needs. Orchestral, urgent and ethereal by degrees, you have to let each track soak into your perceptions and soul, and then listen again and again.
Musical lightning caught in a bottle distilled to utter brilliance, either on CD or caught live.
10/10
Lee Davis