E.P. Review: The Trestles

The Trestles: Hard Faced Town E.P. (Sonica)


1. A Shot Of Wonder
2. Heavy Heart
3. Hard Faced Town
4. Where's The Glory?


After a week of having my ears invaded by The Prodigy, I needed something to heal my aural wounds and, despite the challenging title, 'Hard Faced Town' fits the bill perfectly.

The Liverpool boys' first real release is quite simply a gem of a record, four tracks of exquisite pop each with its own mood and message.

The opener, the appropiately named 'A Shot Of Wonder' is the sort of track we should all wake up to on a Monday morning to remind us that the weekend is not far away. Simple no nonsense pop, with a hint of fellow homeboys Amsterdam in there

'Heavy Heart' is a sweeping ballad with a touch of Irish folk, while title track 'Hard Faced Town' is all about having everything but feeling nothing and how we can change that.

The final track 'Where's The Glory' shows that The Trestles have a message behind their music as they relate the pain of the sectarian troubles in Ireland and leaves is asking ourselves if it's all really worthwhile.

'Hard Faced Town' is not just the hair of the dog to a techno hangover, it's a compact work of art which makes you realise there is still hope. They have found their glory.

Top Track: A Shot Of Wonder
Rating: 9/10



Last 5 NME-E Reviews:
The Prodigy: 'Invaders Must Die'
Lily Allen: 'It's Not Me, It's You'
Morrissey: 'Years Of Refusal'
The View: 'Which Bitch'
The Rifles: 'The Great Escape'

Read all NME-E reviews

Myspace Magic: The Trestles

This week's featured Myspace Magic band takes us once more to the heart of the music world. I first came across Liverpool's The Trestles almost a year ago when I saw them supporting Amsterdam at The Cavern (I think it was bass-player Tom's first gig). Suitably impressed by their set and, coinciding with their first official release, an E.P. called 'Hard Faced Town', NME-E set about finding out a little more about the band, who were kind enough to answer my questions recently. Here's what they had to say:

NME-E: Who are you and how did you come about?
Tres: We are The Trestles, named after a lyric from Bruce Springsteen's 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town' and the author of a Socialist bible. Remember how music used to make you feel? That's why we're here...

An interesting way to come up with a name! And they have a very clear idea of what they are about.

NME-E: What are your releases to date?
Tres: 'Hard Faced Town', a four track EP, is imminent.

In fact, it is now available and once I've downloaded it there'll be a formal review. You can preview the tracks on their myspace page.

NME-E: If you could choose a band to support you, who would it be?
Tres: Damien Dempsey is a particular favourite. But we'd have to go on first - Al is usually in tears by the end of his first song.

Clearly a bunch of old romantics...

NME-E: What was your favourite album of 2008?
Tres: REM's 'Accelerate' rocked. Al loved Van Morrison's 'Keep It Simple' too and Tom was diggin' on Neil Young's 'Chrome Dreams'.

You start to get a feel for The Trestles when you see who they're "diggin'"

NME-E: What are your objectives and prospects for 2009?
Tres: To keep up our run of live gigs (Mathew Street Festival 08, MTV Liverpool Music Week, support slots with Mull Historical Society, Ian McNabb and Amsterdam were all whoppers in the past few months) and for people to hear the Hard Faced Town EP.

Well, I'm definitely gonna be one of those who hears the EP and I recommend you do the same. In fact, do it right here, right now - it's not gonna break the bank!



As per usual, my sincerest thanks to The Trestles for taking the time to talk to NME-Europe. I wish them all the best with the release and ask you all to at least check them out here.

Myspace Magic: The Little Hydes

Having seen the light on myspace and, in particular, having come across a series of new bands, today sees the Myspace Magic section develop even further with the first of a series of interviews with the bands I feel deserve a chance to shine in the near future.


The honour of being the first band to be featured goes to The Little Hydes, a pop quartet from Liverpool. Now, to say they were the inspiration behind this blog is to probably overstate things a little. However, it was whilst I was at the Mathew Street festival (Liverpool, August 2008) that I started thinking that I should have a go at this Blog stuff, with music being the obvious field to delve into. The Little Hydes were one of the bands I first checked out on myspace, having seen them on the Streetwaves stage stage during the aforementioned festival.

Initially I was impressed by their stage presence. There was a definite swagger and air of confidence about them, which surprised me even more when I found out they were all aged 16-18! Screaming fans and a short, but intensely guitar driven set of five songs later, I remember feeling proud of the fact that my home area is capable of producing such quality and decided to find out some more.

Having pestered them a little, the lads were kind enough to answer a few questions for me the other day. Here's what Mick Campbell (guitars/vox), who acted as spokesperson, had to say:
So, who are The Little Hydes?

Well, they are Mick Campbell & David King on Guitars & Vocals, Stephen Gillon on Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals and Tony McPartland on Drums & Backing Vocals and their list of influences is as long as my arm, ranging from The Beatles, through to Bob Marley, The Jam and then onto Editors and The Arctic Monkeys. They currently have no releases, but you can (and should) listen to 5 of their tracks on their myspace.

NME-E: Who are you and how did you come about?
TLH: We've been together for a year now, we're all aged 16-18 and just met through school and mates, just initially started as a hobby but we've been taking it really seriously lately and it seems to be paying off.

Judging by what I saw in Liverpool, this is certainly true. The boys received a riotous reception as they took the stage. I felt SO old when I found out their age!

NME-E: What are your releases to date?
TLH: We've never really had enough money to finance releasing a single but we've recorded a few times. One at Whitby Studios in Ellesmere port last April where we recorded 5 tracks (Summer's Over, Lions Mane, As Back When, KMC and Build) then we won a competition and recorded 2 tracks at Elavator Studios (Little Ideas and The Docker's Son) which is our first properly published work, available on a Streetwaves compilation CD. The last demo we recorded was at Crosstown studios, which is the place where we practise. We did two tracks (Firedancing and Give Me Some Time) which we didn't really intend to put up on the space, but as we've taken some time off gigging we put them up in the end

And thank God they did. 'Firedancing' really surprised me - this band is really maturing fast in their range of style.

NME-E: If you could choose a band to support you, who would it be?
TLH:Hmm thats a hard one because we're only up and coming ourselves. I'd love to play as a support band for either the Manic Street Preachers or Starsailor though.

NME-E: What was your favourite album of 2008?
TLH: My favourite album of 2008 was 'Arm In Arm' by Amsterdam by an absolute mile. A local band I've been following for years because my dad was a fan of the frontman's last band, Pele. Loved the new album and think it's by far his best work to date!

An excellent choice and one that shows a sound knowledge of music. 'Arm In Arm' is also one of my top 10 albums of 2008, it's hard to believe Amsterdam aren't making more of a name for themselves. Everyone should listen to them!

NME-E: What are your objectives and prospects for 2009?
TLH:I suppose taking the next step and really pushing to get signed, although it's really not that easy at all. If we can't do that I'd like to record a promo album to send around all the big labels!

Every up and coming band's dream and why shouldn't they follow it up? The talent is certainly there.

Another "Four Lads Who'll Shake The World"? Keep your eyes on this lot, I definitely will.


My sincerest thanks to Mick, David, Stephen and Tony and best wishes for the future. If you haven't done so already, please visit their myspace page and give them some well earned support. All the best, lads.