Sharp Practise
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Sharp Practise

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"Radiocity Reviews"

Reserved undertones but good rock tunes? Check. Sounding like more members than there probably are? Check. Big atmosphere from a simple band combo? Check. Songs to back it up? Check and mate. Sharp Practise are a classic rock band but not an over the top screaming yelling rock n' roll monster, this is the sound of a band who like to keep things quiet and wouldn't say no to an acoustic set, but not tonight: tonight they wanna rock. And rock they do. Songs like "Bridge Across The Harbour" have occasional guitar licks to make you smile and lift the soul, while "Morgan's Creek" (stop sniggering at the back!) is slower, softer but not necessarily sombre, unlike moody closer "How Do You Take It?" and "How Katie Feels". The titles say it all, but you need to hear them in person to appreciate the band's style. "Bed Of Rhythm" is catchy with backing vocals and a sneering guitar sound, and could be the anthem of the summer radio. Jolly good show.

The Dukester

Not to be confused with Big Star's classic "Radio City" album, "Radiocity" is Lancashire quartet SHARP PRACTISE'S second album and showcases a tight and focussed band with an unfailing ear for classic radio-friendly tunes. Produced with clarity by well-respected deskmeister Mark Daghorn (responsible for numerous talented hard rockers such as Brody and Pilfa Confession Box who've previously been scrutinised on W&H), "Radiocity" features ten extremely well-crafted tracks written by vocalist/ keyboardist Nigel Clothier and his cohorts get into all the required crevices as they fill the sound out impressively. Opener "Bridge Across The Harbour" gives you some idea of the area Sharp Practise are working in. It's emotional, well-played music for adults that brilliantly never lapses into AOR territory. It's driven by yearning, commanding vocals and some slashing guitar work - both supplied by Ant Kempster - and builds meticulously to a memorable chorus.

As the album continues, Sharp Practise prove themselves to be adept at loud'n'hooky rockers ("Bed Of Rhythm"), brash and moving anthems ("How Katie Feels", the showstopping, windswept closing "How Do You Take It") and plaintive guitar pop, like on "No Thanks" - which with its' acerbic lyrical stabs (e.g: "I've been in tighter spots than this/ falling out with you is a lifetime study") - is the kind of thing Neil Finn has made his trademark over the years. It's all generous on the ear, and overall "Radiocity" stands as a very strong album, though if push came to shove, your reviewer would probably choose "Family Of Nations" and "Paint My Dreams" as the stand-out tracks. The former marries an excellent lyrical call for understanding (sample lyric: "If we learn from one another, then we'll have no need to fight") with dramatic Who-style powerchords (think "Baba O'Riley" as a starting point) that come full circle. It's neat, powerful gear, as is "Paint My Dreams", which - with its' funky wah-wah and furious discoid drumming - recalls INXS before they went crap and got bloated. Urgent, in a word. Sharp Practise are a talented band, more than worth keeping an eye on. They are a further reminder that both the provinces and the small, smart labels will always keep us on our toes, which is surely the way it should be. Besides, any band who can use the phrase "liar, liar, your pants are on fire" ("No Thanks") in a lyric and make it sound utterly magnificent gets my vote any day of the year.

Whisperinandhollerin’


“A couple of years on from their self-financed debut album 'Hiya' Wigan musician Nigel Clothier's band Sharp Practise are back with a startling second album 'Radiocity' - on Rising Records. Classic Rock, Melodic Rock even AOR whatever term is given to Sharp Practise's music the new album contains ten sparkling new songs.

The album is essentially just a great rock album with tunes to kill for and words that take you into the minutiae of love affairs, to the heartland of Australia, back to childhood and across imaginary bridges to safe havens. It is essentially an album about travel - in both the literal and emotional sense. Beautifully produced, the album is a master class in musicianship and singing. It is the rhythm section that drives the ten songs forward, and whereas Sharp Practise will never make the stage of the NME Tour with the latest one-month wonders, they will put tunes into the back of your head that will refuse to leave. From the sensitive ballad 'How Katie Feels' to the driving funk of 'Paint My Dreams' and from the glorious 'Morgan's Creek' to the heartache of 'How Do You Take It?' the album is a pure delight in a music world where style is often preferable to substance. Radiocity redresses the balance, more than somewhat!”

Andy Vaughan – Mudhutter








..."Radiocity" looked the light of day during the May this year, and this is a full-length with 10 tracks in, with pretty similiar qualities. A band is on the field of classic rock and americanized indie rock - established in the second half of the 80's, and with traces who lead to melodic rock and AOR. Nigel' s textures are full of emotional pictures, warm and lirical elements, and band musically, on the other hand in some moments knows to remind on Tom Petty's group - HEARTBREAKERS. Of course, we could feel also some additional associations, but I have to mention that creativity and also atmospheric details as same as productional work of Mark Daghom, are key aduts of band's legacy. "Radiocity" is one inspirative issue, and confirm momentally group's respectable standards...
Rating : 8 / 10

Barikada webzine, Bosnia


This is the sophomoric release from Wigan’s (dubiously named) Sharp Practise, following their ‘Hiya’ debut in 2000, which was apparently very well received in Australia, Japan and, somewhat bizarrely, Costa Rica. Apparently, closer to home, commercial success has so far eluded this band, which judging by the professionalism and melodious nature of this release is a bit of a shame.

From the big chorus sing-along of upbeat opener ‘Bridge Across The Harbour,’ with lines like “I get the feeling I am real again / And I belong to everyone,” to more bittersweet tunes such as ‘No Thanks’ (with the outstandingly sardonic: “Liar, liar, pants on fire / Why don’t you look up ‘commitment’?”), this is a mostly feel-good record which, on its own chirpy terms, is nigh on impossible to fault or dislike. So far, so agreeable.

The raunchy funk-rock of ‘Bed of Rhythm,’ with its solid riffing and tight rhythm section, could very well be the North-West’s answer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, though fronted by spectre of Michael Hutchence, and with some female backing thrown in for good measure.

In fact - speaking of INXS - with tunes like ‘Morgan’s Creek,’ ‘Family of Nations,’ ‘Paint My Dreams,’ and well, pretty much all of the record, you can see just why this band go down well in Australia. A distinctly Aussie flavour permeates much of ‘Radiocity,’ recalling not only INXS, but Crowded House and even current stalwarts Powderfinger as well. Clearly, this is a band that, like our antipodean pop-rocking cousins, isn’t afraid of the three M’s: Musicianship, Mateship and Mellifluousness (!). The production job is one of exceptional quality as well - something that is often unduly frowned upon in this country, for some inane reason.

I have to come clean with you now: Sharp Practise are probably not the kind of band that I would usually choose to listen to; they possess a far more mainstream/classic rock sound than I care for, and one too many guitar ‘chops’ for my liking. However, the honest-to-god lyrics and ebullient playing won me over after repeated listens. There’s a strong sense of universality and relatability (evidently I just made up a word!) on here which draws you in, like listening to ‘Cats in the Cradle’ with your dad, or travelling through a foreign country on your own (particularly Down Under!) with a smile on your face and the sun on your pasty British back. This should go down well with fans of the Finn Brothers, Counting Crows and Big Country, as well the other aforementioned bands. In conclusion: thumbs up, dudes.

Glasswerk



- Various


Discography

Radiocity (Rising Records) 2005
Hiya (Niblett Records) 1999

Airplay all over the world on independent radio stations

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Bio

Sharp Practise are a classic rock band but not an over the top screaming yelling rock n' roll monster, this is the sound of a band who like to keep things quiet and wouldn't say no to an acoustic set, but not tonight: tonight they wanna rock. And rock we do.

The kind of thing Neil Finn has made his trademark over the years with dramatic Who-style powerchords and furious discoid drumming - recalls INXS before they went crap and got bloated. Urgent, in a word. Clearly, we are a band that, like our antipodean pop-rocking cousins, isn’t afraid of the three M’s: Musicianship, Mateship and Mellifluousness.

New CD Radiocity is essentially an album about travel - in both the literal and emotional sense – and is a pure delight in a music world where style is often preferable to substance. The production job is one of exceptional quality as well. There’s a strong sense of universality and relatability on here which draws you in, like listening to ‘Cats in the Cradle’ with your dad, or travelling through a foreign country on your own (particularly Down Under!) with a smile on your face and the sun on your back. This should go down well with fans of the Counting Crows and Big Country.