Kiln Records (label)
27 February 2012 (released)
01 February 2012
Coming from Cambridge, it seems appropriate that the members of Twelve Clay Feet are big fans of the late great Syd Barrett. But while they may share the same city heritage there is no evidence of a musical influence, certainly at first listen. Instead the band’s sounds borrow much more from Pink Floyd’s heavier rock counterparts, Led Zeppelin.
Lead vocalist Ian Jeffs displays echoes of Robert Plant, with a rich hard rock sound but he is also reminiscent of some gruffer North American rock bands, like 3 Doors Down and Nickelback. Don’t let the vocal reference put you off though; after all the likes of Nickelback are schooled in the same 70s rock as many British bands, as Led Zeppelin’s influence spanned the Atlantic.
Adding intrigue and marketability to the heavy sound of their debut is the fact that Ian and lead guitarist Jay are twins. Thankfully a little bit of facial hair helps you to tell them part! Making up the four piece, are Ollie Porsa, whose impressive bass underpins many of the tracks alongside the drums of Bob Radford. Live reviews have been good, landing them support slots with the likes of Editors and Hard Fi and you can hear in this record why.
Led Zeppelin were never afraid to embrace the Blues as we know, and while much of Totem Bells is pretty straight rock fair (Still Life and Casino Rules), Cornfeed, Red Moon and Give Yourself Away display some interesting rhythmic changes and Blues tinges. Acoustic moments like Sarajevo Bombs prove a softer side while the moody Sour Rum has some impressive production, lifting it above the mundane.
Jeffs says the overall themes are human motivation, the push and pull between desire and duty, saying that he explores the relationship between what we become and how we were brought up; that unavoidable link. British heavy rock bands of the last 20 years have not found things easy. After all, the likes of Thunder and more recently The Answer were never ‘cool’. But as Them Crooked Vultures have shown, there is a market for this type of music done well. And Twelve Clay Feet are developing nicely.
