I first found The Peppermint Apes on You Tube over a year or so ago and then was introduced more by tuning in to various radio shows and talking to Anne Cannon and Colin Stanton.
Before I had my own radio show back in February 2011 I was a guest on a radio station myself where I took in brand new tracks no one had heard to air as all exclusives for listeners. One of the bands that took part in this was The Peppermint Apes with an unreleased track called ‘Gotta Change’.
Why do I bring this up? Well the sound in that demo shocked everyone who tuned in that day as it was said by Colin Stanton (Manager) back then as a possible new direction. The feedback back then by all was WOW.
Well the year has flown by and now I am playing the new EP simply entitled THE PEPPERMINT APES with the new line up and yes this new direction.
Now with
Ryan Stanton - lead vocals, guitar and songwriter
James Fox – drums, B/V
Lewis Brown – bass, vocals
Luke Swift – keyboards B/V
Sean Markus – lead guitar, vocals
The band is as strong as it’s ever been
The tracks
‘All She Needs’ has a heavy drums/bass line which really pushes them more towards rock than pop. Keyboards sound between 80s U.S. rock to a touch of classic piano which really melds well into the drum/bass line.
It features a short bass solo which is awesome and I could easy imagine live that being extended to the crowds delight
Guitars on this are not so out front as to be expected but you can certainly hear them make the song complete and give that extra edge.
The vocals are as always with the band totally outstanding as Ryan when he sings makes every word feel believable and real as he sings with a passion and almost a sad heart ‘All She Needs Is You’.
‘Ain’t Going Down’ the opening guitar and drum rifts reminds me of classic Deep Purple especially with the added amazing keyboards taking me back to Don Airey sound.
The drums stand out so much in this track almost like thundering in beat throughout.
I find this track has everything as it rocks but also has again a touch of some beautiful classic piano, the sound too of guitar solos and amazing backing vocal harmonies that complement Ryan’s lead vocals to perfection.
‘Secrets Out’ love the guitar slap style throughout this, the sound by the boys is so compact and tight within this it is pure joy over playing this to my CD player screams NO MORE (*should of brought Duracell he laughs)
‘I have nothing to hide the secrets out’ a line goes and so true no secret here this track is outstanding, the band is outstanding say no more.
Pure rock/pop at it’s best.
‘Nothing At All’ (Remix) well how can you top perfection? This is often asked in music, I know have heard it asked many times over the years with various artists.
The original comes from the album ‘Against The Wall’ and this being one of my favourites tracks from the album I very much thought “oh no what have they done?”
See I loved the past acoustic radio version I once heard on a live jam and the album version so did not know what to expect here.
My fears were blown away once I played the track the drum beat is not so heavy, more further back in the mix as the original and the lead guitar is out front more with a sharper cleaner edge which to me gives it the stamped The Peppermint Apes sound we all love.
It also has a keyboards backing reminding me of classic Billy Joel. It has some very different backing harmonies that so bring this track to life.
Ryan’s vocals have some added effects midway which I say in a positive way as it gives the track a more NOW sound.
THE PEPPERMINT APES EP yes the secret is out
http://thepeppermintapes.co.uk
brill
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