Gabrielles Wish : EPs Reviewed : By Graham Halsey

Gabrielle’s Wish burst onto the scene with a high octane, Grungy sound that wouldn’t have been out of place in Seattle, save for the vocals that will evidently will draw comparisons to Shaun Ryder at his peak. Signed by Rob Gretton, the man responsible for finding and signing Joy Division, there were high hopes that GW would follow on their success. And it’s quite clear to see why from this EP. From the raw energy of ‘Real Horror Show’, through to the evident psychedelic tones of ‘Mary Bobbins’ via the synth-laced heavy riffs of ‘Warmonger’ it’s evident that GW were going to be staying around.

One year later sees the return of GW with ‘Golded Up’ (1997), and the synths have been toned down in place of a more rounded, more confident sound. The band were evidently growing more confident playing together and as a result no hunger or passion have been sacrificed to make this more rounded sound. With the same raw energy of the first EP through out it makes not only the stand out tracks of ‘Let me in’ and ‘Simple’ a joy to listen to, but also the epically drawn out ‘Hood’ seem like time has flown for the 14:15 it runs for.

Following the death of the band’s Manager, mentor and friend, change was inevitable. But this time, gone are the heavy bass laden riffs, and the powerful vocals to be replaced by pure electronica. With a light mellow sound that would just as easily fit into the ambient tents at Global Gathering as it would a live set on stage.

‘Manchester Suite’ was released in 2001 and named after Peter Hook’s studio where it was recorded, This was to earmark a turn in the road for the band.

‘Manchester Suite’ shows the growth in maturity from the band, heading to places that are a vast distance away from the inevitable Happy Mondays Comparisons of the 90s.

After the mellow sounds of ‘Manchester Suite’ we have 2002’s darker offering of ‘Cost One.’ Cost one re-introduces everything that we loved from the first 2 EPs and fuses them nicely with the sounds of their previous EP.

‘Orange Light’ combines the heavy riffs with the beautiful synths once again to give us a great feeling of longing across a very powerful vocal performance which could have been echoed by more recent bands such as the Editors. ‘Hoist’ could have been released along with the ‘Manchester suite’ EP, with great mellow vibes to offer a great contrast.

‘Get up’ is a slower affair, with a very different vocal performance, carried forwards by amazing riffs and crashing drums that brings the EP into the outro track ‘Mood pill’, which brings the EP to an end.

‘Here from the neck down’ (2005) takes the sound of cost one and builds upon it . Member is a pure rock-pop classic that combines the vocals of the previous EP with amazing guitar riffs that should have received more attention nationwide. Member is a powerful song with an almost industrial drum beat to it that is both relentless and furious; ‘Sherman’s’ instant pace and scratchy guitars let you know well before the muffled vocals kick in that this is 2 ½ minutes of your life well spent. And then for the finale of the EP, ‘Had an accident’ is a beautifully haunting piece of work, that nicely lowers the tone for the end of the EP,  letting it end in a beautiful acoustic place, with powerful vocals layered nicely on top.

And finally we have the ‘Martyrs come hang your signs EP (2006). ‘The heretics rise’ is a high energy track that could have come from their earlier EPs had it not been for the more polished vocals. ‘Again alone’ is a much softer affair, the beautiful harmonics and softly hushed vocals working in simpatico to create one of their most beautiful tracks. With the piano taking centre stage on the end of the EP, both ‘Down to my love’ and ‘Cut here’ show a maturity beyond anything we have seen in their previous EP, The wistful longing of  down to my love is complimented nicely by the 2 ½ minutes of  beautiful harmonics layered with lovely bass synths to create an epic end to an awesome EP.