www.needleinthegroove.co.uk: Hi-speed life

Thursday 31 May 2018

Hi-speed life - EP

Introducing Hi Speed Life. These guys are a huge hit in their hometown of Adelaide, Australia and are currently preparing to release their next release later in the year working with local producer extraordinaire Darren Mullan of Adelaide Recording Studio’s, the man behind the mighty Jac Dalton sound amongst others.

Peter Eime on base, Paul Kennedy on lead guitar, Dom Furina on drums and Danny Gates on vocals, make up Adelaide band Hi Speed Life. Hi Speed Life take pride in producing an original sound of rock.

Listening this new Australian group, it’s clear these recordings are demo versions but they give you enough indication as to what to expect if these guys eventually release an official album.

On first listening, I’m not 100% impressed. ‘Every Day’ & ‘Fake It’ pass by without any attempt at pricking my ears up that are waiting for that thundering chorus to kick in. These tunes just roll by unnoticed as nothing seems to really happen in them.

‘If You Wanna Fight’ is no different but then things change when ‘Rocket Man’ kicks in. This is very brit-rock style stuff and a breath of fresh air compared to what I’ve heard so far, with it’s The Kinks ‘You Really Go Me’ style riff.

‘Take Me Down’, although holds some nice riffs in the verses, just doesn’t pack a punch when it comes to the chorus, but does kick into a great solo, which, for me, saves the song. The whole EP, taking into account that this is a demo version doesn’t sit right with me. This band does not in my opinion deserve a recording contract. It’s basic rock n roll. Nothing magical, different, or catchy enough to allow your ears to part company with whatever they are doing at the time and start listening to what’s in front of them.

And then ‘Rangatang’ kicks in. It starts with a lovely bass riff, which is then picked up by the guitars and slides into the verse. This is more like it. It has a hint of Smashing Pumpkins to it and is by far the best song on the EP so far. My ears have finally pricked up!!

‘Breathe Now’ is another good effort and it’s riff reminds me of Ross The Boss ‘By Blood Sworn’. ‘Make It Right’ is another great tune. Seems these guys have saved the best tunes to the 2^nd half of the EP!! We conclude with ‘Same Old Thing’ which has lots of similarities to their fellow countrymen AC/DC, but on a lower scale, but not a bad rock n roll tune.

Overall, I’m not sure these guys would be a hit over these shores. They would need to come up with more tunes like ‘Rangatang’ and ‘Breathe Now’ in order to win our hearts.

Reviewed by Sty

Rating 5/10

Hi Speed Life are:-

Paul Kennedy —Guitars

Danny Gates —Vocals

Dom Furnia —Drums

Peter Eime —Bass

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ABOUT ME

I was brought up on my dad's record collection of rock 'n' roll greats. He was a Teddy Boy and had all the gear (and hair) - drain pipe trousers, jacket, crepe shoes. We listened to Elvis, Bill Hailey, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Fats Domino, Tommy Steel, and the big names from the sixties such as Dave Clark Five, Wayne Fontana, Dave Dee (etc.,). This music was the kind that you would listen to to rebel against and annoy your parents; it was rough, wild, and the Ted's had a reputation.

So, fast forward to the end of the 70's. I was about 12 when it was the thing to choose your musical stance. It had to be a good choice as there was no going back. You had to be a mod, or a rocker back around 1980. I had a mate (still do, just the one mind) and he was an influence with regards to my musical tastes (and we still go gigging together to this day), and what with my dad's influence I chose the rocker route. I've never looked back. We (me and dad) both started a musical journey where our parents hated what we listened to! In fact, being a teenager in the mid 50s, it wasn't any different to being a teenager in the late 70's/early 80's with regards to rebellion. Although in my era, you couldnt get rickets.

I was fed strictly on a cassette diet of Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Rush and Rainbow. From there it expanded into melodic rock and hair metal - Journey, Foreigner, Stryper, Ratt, Motley Crue, and Dokken. And Prog!

I absorbed all I could. I was a human sponge. The internet was eons away, so I got my fix via a wonderful weekly paper called 'Sounds.' It covered a lot of genres, but they specialised in Rock! I read it every week without fail for about three years. I loved the way their reporters wrote articles. It was like they were talking directly to me. It's how I try to do the same today. When it stopped, I moved with the crowd and subscribed to 'Kerrang!' A lot of the 'Sounds' crew moved across, and it felt like home. I wanted to know more about what was happening over in the U.S. So I subscribed to 'Hit Parader' - it was shite really, the articles weren't great, but the pictures were good. Plus I could follow the Dokken feud between Don and George. Thirty odd years later, they still hate each other! Today, its a diet of 'Classic Rock' Mag, sometimes 'Prog Mag', 'Fireworks' and 'Planet Rock' mag.

My enjoyment of this music has never waned. I see the same people time and again and its a great community. I try to get to as many gigs as I can still as its much better than sitting on your arse reviewing. I hope you enjoy the blog!

Paul Chesworth