Wellington based The Ramps have just released their self recorded six track EP Plural. They are ex-UK singer/songwriter Mike Gwyther (ex Self Inlicted a UK hardcore/cross band) with ex kick-boxing camp Shane Madzen on guitar, David Wynn on bass and ex-Hellserpoppin drummer Chris Irving.
Opening track Cinderella Girl is inoffensive straight forward guitar pop that is, frankly, note really that noticeably – but later tracks on the collection indicate some more interesting directions.
Revolving Door melds an eighties-dance-punk feel with something quasi-eastern while Constellations has a great friendly new wave feel to it. Both songs indicate there’s more interesting things to come from this band if they explore these bands further. Mid paced Message To Yourself ambles along while Islands and Satellites are, sadly, a dismal attempts at being something ‘epic’; that come off poorly.
But, if The Ramps continue on the trajectories they seem to have set by the better songs on this EP then they might end up landing themselves in some interesting spots. If, indeed, that’s where they wanna go – then meet them there on their next release perhaps.
