When new music is released, fans and fanatics flock like crazy to get a piece of the action. Like sagulls and hot chips, once we get a taste for a good band we crave the satisfaction of a timeless rock tune. Up and coming Sydney rock stars Cold Vulture have become the latest of such with an addictive bluesy rock with an element of funk.
They’re as loose as a goose, and Cold Vulture have a keen eye for funk inspired inspired rock. If you need fun dance floor fillers, this is it.
Only new to the music scene, the four piece band featuring Blade Hills (guitar), Gericho Hills (bass), Cooper Hill (drums) and Vincent Pham (vox, guitar), have released their debut four song EP Groovy Moose with the help of producer Nick Franklin. Their sound is edgy, and combines the nostalgic vibes of 70s funk that is steeped in omnipresent influence of blues and rock.
Their first single was Hazy Dazy, a balanced song that has the right amount of funk mixed with rock. The verses are steady and utilise the deeper notes of the instruments. The attention grabbing sound of the bass accompanied by a fast beat, radiate a psychedelic funk sensation. Combined with the lucidity of the lyrics “Surrounded by daisies / And it feels kind of hazy / I could beat it / I need relief”, create a hallucinogenic and chilled out atmosphere. “Circumstances all around me / I think I might be going crazy / I’m not gonna sleep” heighten the essence of intoxication and create a ‘love story’ with everyone’s favourite lady Mary Jane.
As the song continues the sound evolves and hits you with the rock element, pulling you from the mood altering trance. The guitars override the bass, vocals become louder and the tempo rises to pump us up. The juxtaposition between the verses and chorus create a mellow rock song, funky enough to have your body grooving and your head banging.
The bar was set high with their first song and was soon followed by their latest single Groove, Move and Lose. Following much the same structure, the opening is a prominent guitar riff tailed by bass. The bass dominates the verses, with solemn backing of drums and electric guitar. The music stops just before the chorus highlighting the vocals, a tactic that shapes a raw blues tune.
There is nowhere for them to hide as the music is stripped right back to create a real groovy, easy going atmosphere. The chorus enhances the funk component by toning down the bass and heightening the electric guitar. The song is a see-saw of energy that has us up dancing one moment and down bobbing along the next.
The mixture of funk and blues with the undertone of rock and roll have fashioned a fascinating and encapsulating sound. When the music is over, you want to push play again. Sydney better watch out as the lads of Cold Vulture are circling and hungry to release more tunes.
