Cross Wires

http://soundsgoodtometoo.com/2011/07/17/cross-wires-dont-go-surfing/ - Souns Good To Me Too

“Is it all it’s cracked up to be?” Heck yeah! The band Cross Wires is a London-based band made up of Jonathan Chapman on Vocals, Peter Muller on Guitar and Vocals, Pete Letch on Bass and Vocals and Ian Clarke on Drums. When asked, Chapman said that he would say the sound is mostly rooted in “Punk/New Wave/Post Punk, but we see it as pop music….Twisted Pop if you like!”

They definitely have a fun, high energy garage punk sound that may not be for everyone, but anyone who likes the movie Scott Pilgrim or has The Clash on their play list, should down load this ASAP and don’t be stingy! Share it with your friends!
Cross Wires first debuted in October 2010 playing at The Others in Stoke Newington. From that time on they have recorded 2 EPs Forward/Repeat and Animal Heat at Gordan Raphael’s (that is Gordon Raphael, famed producer of The Strokes) Urchin Studios in Limehouse, East London.

In Cross Wires’ most current EP Animal Heat, “Don’t Go Surfing,” “Man Against Beast” and “Peace,” the band delivers a high voltage, stripped-down instrumentation of sound and energy. You’re going to save yourself the $5 for that store-bought coffee, because you definitely won’t need it if you start your day off playing this over the speakers or your head phones (go for the speakers and wake the whole house up)! In “Don’t Go Surfing” The listener is likely to have the urge to start kicking and punching the air right where they stand with this fast paced, hard-edged Punk sound. “Man against Beast” sounds a lot like “Sex Bob om” by Garbage truck (from the Scott Pilgrim vs the world movie) this is an edgy get up and dance song! In the song “Peace” you’ll hear a raunchy, wild rawness that one would expect from a garage punk band. You’ll be able to hear something that may sound like The Lemon heads and maybe even The Cure.

Cross Wires take their influence from – Blur, Joy Division, The Clash, Gang Of Four, The Fall, Wire, The Walkmen, Ramones, The Velvet Underground, Television and The Strokes. “Loads more as well” says their lead singer Jonathan. Their fan base is mostly 20-something indie kids, with the majority of their shows played all over London in various venues including 93 Feet East, The Wheelbarrow, Proud, Heroes Bar, The Underbelly, The Enterprise, The Bowery and The Hope and Anchor.

They see themselves as a really good live band where their fans enjoy the energy put in to their shows even if they are not the kind of band they would usually like! Get me a ticket to London! This sounds like a good time!

Can you believe that there was a (sad) time in our history where music journalism actually spent their energy into putting bands down for their high energy sound and “crazed” fans? NOW we have the privilege to celebrate such bands for their aggressive, even tribal style of delivering music to the masses. - Indie Music Reviewer

Cross Wires - Animal Heat (EP)
Any music lover looking for a laid back punk infused sound should keep the name Cross Wires on the tip of their tongue. The four-part new wave/punk/post punk group has made their way from a studio in East London to the vocal streams of audiophiles world (web) wide. Cross Wires, consisting of vocalist Jonathan Chapman, guitarist and vocalist Peter Muller, bassist/vocalist Pete Letch, and drummer Ian Clarke made their grand debut at a show in October 2010 and have been hitting it hard ever since. The Animal Heat EP, their sophomore response to the earlier Forward/Repeat EP, is a three-track release that features an interesting blend of energising and relaxing elements.

Don’t Go Surfing!!! is featured as the solid opening to the EP, showcasing the many influences that Cross Wires embodies. The track opens with the definitively appropriate sounds of a classic 50’s American surf song. However, it spends the remainder of its short life emanating the energy of a Ramones song. Also heard in the track are subtle influences from the later sounds of The Kinks as well as The Konks.

Animal Heat, the second track on release, manifests much of the former punk sound from Don’t Go Surfing but manages to incorporate the laid back garage band feel of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Its repetitive chants and transitioning guitar lines give Animal Heat the potential to be a hit with laid back and high energy listeners alike.

Peace tops off the EP with its own relaxed persona. It appears appropriate that with a title such as Peace, the sounds featured in such a track should follow suit. The vocals in this track are easily the most raw of the three with a stripped back emotion one could only find in a down to earth punk band.

In essence, if you appreciate a rich blend of all your favorite punk artists—old and new alike—it would be a safe bet to go and get your own copy of the Animal Heat EP. Already have it? Then go visit the guys of Cross Wires live and in the flesh at one of their many shows. The lads who make up this group have crazy potential and, if you see them early on, you gain automatic bragging rights when they truly make their break onto the scene.

To sneak a peek at show listings, drop a line to Cross Wires, or take a listen to Animal Heat for yourself, click - Heavy Petal