EP Review: Rosellas - 'Somewhere Inbetween'
Manchester’s Rosellas add the brilliant new EP ‘Somewhere Inbetween’ to their already impressive discography.
Radio X have summed up perfectly the sound of the latest body of work, saying that Rosellas ‘Tap into their hometown’s musical legacies, putting their own stamp on them’. This couldn’t be more true. The group have delivered an EP which holds undisputable individuality, which seems to have been inspired by their hometown heroes.
Kicking off the EP is the single track ‘Hideaway’. Its jangly intro builds immediate suspense. One guitar plays a catch riff. Quickly, though, the rest of the group kick in and suddenly the track is so full. Drew Selby’s vocal performance as the frontman is particularly mesmerizing in this one. He just has voice that you can’t ignore. Fans will struggle to revert their attention from what is a captivating vocal effort by the frontman as well as Luis Sullivan on backing vocals.
‘Hideaway’ seems to have been the perfect choice for a single to precede the EP. It truly shows off the bands talents, with huge guitar solos, big drum fills and a bassline that truly ties it all together. Euan Mail on guitar, Ollie Appelby on bass and Mark Zanker on drums really do form the basis of what is a magnificent opening number.
The group have recently enjoyed a run of shows which were almost completely sold-out. With tracks like those on the EP, it’s no wonder. One of those performed on the tour was the second track from the EP: ‘Switch Off’. It’s yet another demonstration of just how tight the group are, and this one is a musical masterclass. The message is clear: ‘Switch off your mind, lay it all to rest’. It’s a track that fans will-if they haven’t already- really get behind. It’s a true ‘lose yourself’ number and it’s no wonder that it was so well-received on the tour.
‘Bare Your Soul’ is the third track, and what a centrepiece it is. The track is slow-burning, it constantly builds as it progresses. The performance by Sullivan on keys really builds the suspense. There’s a growth in power as each verse ends. It continues to build until it reaches sheer climax towards the end, with the group shredding huge solos all over the place. This one is the perfect choice at the centre of the EP, as it is impossible to ignore. A brilliant track, and as one of the only brand-new tracks on the record, it’s sure to blow fans’ minds.
Closing out the new body of work are the tracks ‘Come Alive’ and ‘Thunderstorming’. The first having a classic Manchester feel to it: crunchy guitars with chorus effects on them. It’s expansive in its style and is yet another which is sure to impress crowds all over.
The EP closes out with the slightly more sombre, acoustic-based ‘Thunderstorming’, which holds a more reflective feel as their latest piece of work closes out. Overall, it just proves the versatility of the group, who go through a range of sounds in the EP and nail every single one of them.
Rosellas are set to play a handful of shows following the release of the EP, and fans can look forward to hearing the new tracks in person, since they are quite truly brilliant.
Words by Matthew Caslin
