berkeley

Like the Iveagh Gardens on Harcourt Street, the Ballintrillick Horseshoe in Co. Sligo, or the Gravediggers Pub in Glasnevin, Donegal trio Berkeley are one of Ireland's hidden gems. While other bands may have the right connections, the right influences or the right haircuts, Berkeley have been secreted away in the north west, quietly creating some of the finest rock'n'roll on this island.
In Moments, their second album, is an unfussy but quite brilliant collection of emotive guitar-driven rock, served up with a barrage of raw energy, humble melody and real soul. From the opening salvo of 'Here At Last', a delicious blend of driving drums, layered backing vocals and a hook that resounds around your head for days, to the open-wound fragility of 'Coming Up For Air' or the hymn-like hidden track at the end, the three-piece prove themselves a liquid ensemble, capable of astonishing moments of heart-breaking frailty, along side some of the loudest, punkiest anthems this side of Fugazi, with bassist Eugene McGinty and drummer Hugh Law forming a rhythm section as tight as a ducks bunghole.
Sandwiched in between is the short, sharp shock of 'Weighed Down' (the missing link between Metallica and Foo Fighters), the ironically titled instrumental 'Elevator Music' and the frantic 'Perfect Sentiment'. Then there's the absolutely gorgeous 'With A Nervous Eye' and the truly beautiful 'No More Shall We Talk', who's aching sadness washes over you in waves of crashing chords, barely restrained vocals and a melody that grabs you by the lug and drags you along for the ride.
Front man Tommy McLaughlin has evolved into one of the most emotive vocalists in the country, equally at home with the heads-down-no-nonsense riffathon of 'Breaking Heart', the screaming-till-your-blue-in-the-face rage of 'Give It A Rest' and the raw resignation of the title track's tortured refrain: "This is how they break your heart" indeed.
In many ways, In Moments is the sound of a band growing up. Not that there was anything wrong with their Steve Albini-produced debut, Hope, Prayers and Bubblegum, but their sophomore effort is a more rounded, multi-faceted affair, showcasing the trio's musical maturity to the full. Surely their position as Ireland's best-kept musical secret won't hold true for much longer. Jump on board before they go supernova.

9/10
John Walshe - Hotpress

Berkeley have a seemingly fervid appreciation for the finer moments in 90s alternative rock. Inheriting an appealing middle ground between the quiet / loud intricacies of early emo-forbears Christie Front Drive and the direct, hook-laden pop-rock strut of Gin Blossoms, the crunchy quartet deal in cascading, reaching rock with a searing, soul-stirring lyricism. There’s honesty in tracks like ‘Bleeding Heart’ that exceeds fashion or pretension and no small dose of skill as the taut dynamics exhibit a young band at the height of their collective powers. ‘In Moments’ is a heart-rending sophomore record that deserves an honest ear and a place in any discerning alt.rock fan’s collection.

David McLaughlin - Alternative Ulster

Whoever thought that ambition was dead in music has obviously never come across Berkeley. Hailing from Donegal - about as far away from the supposed centre of the Irish music business as you can get without being inGreenland - and residing on a small indie label has certainly proved no barrier. Not only was their debut album mastered at Abbey Road, it was recorded in Chicago, with Steve Albini. All of which wouldn't matter a jot if the album wasn't up to much. As it happens, Hope, Prayers and Bubblegum is a beauty. Unsurprisingly, difficult punk rock is the order of the day and in truth the band have more in common with the capitals instrumental set than any of their more poppy contemporaries. The songs - after the rather faltering 'New Heavy' - are uniformly superb. The quiet/loud melodic path has been well trod in the past, but in these six hands it still sounds fresh, thrilling and genuinely exciting, as they move effortlessly from the bludgeoning riffs of 'Follow Through' to the more measured 'All I Want' and 'Colour Me In'. In fact the one weak link may just be Albini's production. His presence may offer extra alternative kudos but it also denies the band the scope that they are so obviously capable of creating, as on the almost Radiohead like 'I'm Losing You'. Berkeley don't need to back themselves into some kind of obscure indie corner. They might be a little left field to be this years Gemma, Mundy or Frames but Hope, Prayers and Bubblegum should still be seen as one of 2003's most important domestic releases.

8/10

Phil Udell - Hotpress

At the end of last year this young Donegal trio announced their arrival with the excellent rocking "New Star EP" and now follow that up with a gem of an album produced by Steve Albini. It's powerful, emotional hardcore with well-thought-out lyrics and the influences of Fugazi and Buffalo Tom are nicely tempered with smouldering songs reminiscent of early Radiohead.

4/5

Tim Perry - UK Independant

Near perfect debut from Donegal-based post-rock trio. Made up of bold crimson, the cover image of Irish trio Berkeley's debut album resembles nothing so much as the physical convolutions of the human heart. Fitting then, that the Steve Albini-produced 'Hope, Prayers and Bubblegum' is both a contorted, complex reworking of post-hardcore rock and a raw, bloodied, ear-busting slab of emotion. It's a dynamic that recalls US post-hardcore henchmen Fugazi and one that Berkeley, with an average age of just 21, have already developed to epic proportions. Take the hooky bassline of 'Explanations' or the big-throated bluster of 'New Star', both possessing a pop-inspired shine that steers Berkeley towards the mainstream. Even when they make a misguided move into soft metal territories on 'All I Want', it's not long before Berkeley rediscover their edge with the eerie atmospherics of I'm Losing You"

KKKK

Jane Gillow - Kerrang

The work of three kids from Donegal, these five tracks have more ideas and twists in them than you'd find on most full-length albums. With Steve Albini twisting the production knobs, it's raw , emotive, complex and highly atmospheric stuff, and some of the best alt.rock to surface in a long time.

4/5 SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Tim Perry - UK Independant

'GET OVER it!' shrieks Tommy McLaughlin a few seconds into 'New Star'. Is that the sound of another emotional crisis being exorcised with a dose of hardcore pounding? Well yes, but inventive Irish upstarts Berkeley only use the heart-and-brawn bluster of Hundred Reasons as a template for tailoring their own mini-anthems. From then on they add as many flourishes as they see fit. 'Explanations' fades in with an eerie guitar line before being set alight by Berkeley's grasp of melody, while 'Fallen' boasts a bass-line that could blister paint. With ragged vocals that recall Walter Schreifels and Fugazi-esque fury. Berkeley might just be a gorgeous mash-up of your favourite bands. New Star? Better make that stars.

KKKK - Kerrang

Hailing from Co. Donegal, Berkeley have not only set their musical sights across the Atlantic, they've ended up recording there - in Chicago with Steve Albini, no less. The result is this stunning five-track EP, one of the best releases to emerge from these shores this year. Not suprisingly, there's more than a nod to all things American but those influences are peerless, from the current emo scene back to the much missed Buffalo Tom. The playing is crisp and precise, Tommy McLaughlin's vocals wringing every last drop of emotion from each song. Spellbinding.

SINGLE OF THE FORTNIGHT

Phil Udell - Hotpress

In a parallel universe, Berkeley would be the lords of the US and UK music scenes, patron saints of the skate punk contingent, presidents and darlings of the rock press. If there's any justice in this universe, the planets shall re-align soon and the Donegal trio can rightfully claim their throne. 'Follow Through' is a truly infectious and wonderful anthem, and while the mind boggles that the mass acclaim that often follows a song of this calibre has somewhat eluded the band, it won't be too long before stardom beckons.

TS. - Hotpress