EP Review: Brightside

Auckland three-piece Running Stitch are a high-volume group of experienced musicians.

The Brightside EP is a four-song offering which has been independently produced and released. The band is Aletta Ashdown on vocals and guitar; Gavin Botica on bass and Kayne Wilkinson on drums.

Right from the first bars of the EP’s title track it sets a solid pace, over driven guitars which sound like they’re being played through warm valves with intent. Just as the listener thinks yes, this is an A A1 B B1 structure, there’s a C part at the three-minute mark, it’s like an afterthought which really works.

Track two The Wait begins more gently than Brightside, but ramps up in intensity, before a coda crescendo. I totally love the multi tracking of Ashdown’s voice in the chorus, it really hooks and works.

I know comparisons are lazy journalism, but I hear a bit of Tadpole and early Fur Patrol, along with hints of Sousixie and the Banshees in this music.

Aletta Ashdown has a huge voice, especially on the closing track, Hunted. The band is playing out of their skins, Kayne Wilkinson’s snare drum cracks through the wonderful racket made by Gavin Botica on bass along with Ashdown’s guitar.

All four tracks on this EP are strong representations of the band’s power and style. It’s expertly recorded and produced by Adrian Ashdown and mastered by Steve Carrao of Sage Audio in Nashville.

Brightside may not be the band’s debut, but it is a great addition to their catalogue.

Brightside is available on Bandcamp.

_{Written by Darryl Baser}