I
bought a Planet Earth newspaper at the end of 002. Unusual for me, but it had Joe
Strummer on the front. I'd heard the news, but somehow, seeing it on the front
page of The Independent made it real. The article was written by James Brown.* He was the editor of hey-day NME that
published the 4 Real pix of Richey, and managed Fabulous,
so it surprised me to read something about the woe of people in their 30s and 40s over
Joe's death. It caught my eye, because the first person to text me with shock and sorrow
had been a fellow Clash fan, Dexy, in his early 20s. On Planet Water,
punx are all ages and Corporation:Blend are the real deal. Look out for this bunch. In Spring 003, Corporation:Blend will have
music to buy and gigs to perform it at. They are a band you should see for yourself, if
you haven't already.
 Corporation:Blend are one of the many bands with local
connections. Andy and Dexy live locally and, like The
Fairies Band, are often in the Hobgoblin Pub opposite Nu-X-G8 station. Along with
Rob and Brad they have had all manner of comparisons
bandied at their music due to the wide spectrum of their songs (Including Foo Fighters,
Muse, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, The Clash, Mansun and Cooper Temple Clause). Really
though, they are just Corporation:Blend. Listen to them - they are great
song writers and musicians, see them live - they are great performaers too.
They started 003 with a gig at The Metro in London. The place
wasn't packed out but it was full enough and lively. "Blew It"
from the newly recorded demo, got the set off to a frantic pace. --(C:B)-- played a
really good gig by some standards. They weren't fully together - not tight enough tonight
but were still the highlight of the evening and even bought a bigger crowd than the
headliners. I enjoyed it immensley and have seen glimpses of formidable brilliance at
their gigs, Corporation:Blend deserve stardom. They are a damn fine group
with raging conviction. As a new convert put it after they suddenly disappeared in a puff
of smoke, "they know". When C:B are firing on all
cylinders, their potential has no bounds. They are already stars as fans that had
travelled from outside London agreed.
Corporation:Blend are D.I.Y. with devoted,
determined and happily deranged fans already - despite no money or exposure. The
fanfriendbase are eager to help them, industry folk are interested and the venues they
play at invite them back. The Jungle Telegraph is their current media support. They had
copies of their new demo to sell at The Metro. It sold out. There were a couple of live
reviewers (from Rockfeedback, Drowned In Sound and Teletext) checking them out too. The
band even picked up sexual admiration along with appreciation of their driving live force.
It would be fair to say the buzz on them is growing and even fairer to ask the
people who go to see them over and over again if they are any good!
Sometimes it's hard to believe C:B have only
been going since the turn of the century. They believed they could be THE
band so in 2000 they started their quest for world appreciation and adoration. They liked
the words "corporation" and "blend". Sorted.
Obsessed and armed with music they have come to London Punk City to "make
it"., Although in 2001
you HAD to come from USA to gain serious national media attention, the UK’s
underground media were falling in love with a thankfully un-labelled 21st century punk
scene. It’s on this now-breaking circuit that Robert Owen, Andy Harrison and
David "Dexy" Klepacz from Bournemouth met Bradley Wells from Kent, ganged together and
continue to win admirirers.
Their first demo got them XFM radio play, a
worshipful live review, and the start of the word-of-mouth buzz. One label, Skittish
Records, even released "The Shutdown" voluntary, through sheer
enthusiasm.
 Last year, although virtually penniless and with
their backs to the wall, self belief in their music and frantically great shows won more
fans and great industry feedback. By the end of 2002 the interest in them had become a buzz. They must be doing
something right, Dexy even met some C:B fans at the Manics
gig in Brighton (and talking of MSP, James Dean
Bradfield is a fan of "Jailbait" from a previous
demo).
Corporation:Blend have it all;
giant tunes, explosive energy and a spunky, spiky self sufficient attitude-overload that
people love and hate. They stand out from the crowd on the strength of their songs. They
want it all and entertain both on and off stage with the things they do and say. This band
are blessed with a creative party crew who exchange zines, flyers (and wigs?) at their
gigs. They are perfect pop idols and it IS all happening...
Worth checking out in 2003, they have the wild enthusiasm of
youth and more than enough to say on just about everything. A great rock and roll band
determined to be appreciated. Rock’n’Roll daydreams are made of this, and with fab tunes to start with, Corporation:Blend are not
"scene" and "herd", but to be seen and heard.
"They are thirsty for a
revolution. And if it's televised this band deserve a prime time slot" (NME)
biased? you bet? from the very first gig that
i saw. but guess what? although C:B have a small fan base, it really is
growing.
after the metro, three of my friends had
travelled from milton keynes after hearing some music. they fell in love just like i did.
i had other mates too and they added themselves to the mailing list or said they would
like to go again. there was a live review in drowned in sound, they didnt like them all
that much (theyd come to see redjetson) but that's cool. they can't be to everybody's
taste.
after all, one of the new converts had to be
held off throttling dexy who had worked his special magic charm on them with a comment
about The Ramones that didn't quite come out right - and she is a fan!.
the media that did like them were over the
moon about them. they got a great live review on teletext (8/10!) and not
only the big thumbs up from rockfeedback but a slot on the special
hand-picked bill of hot unsigned acts that the basement club is doing as
a one-off. gordon raphael (producer of the strokes album is this
it) is dj-ing, the place is always packed to the rafters with eager music lovers
and networking industry bods and has a great atmosphere with an excellent soundtrack.
The new songs are great. C:B
said they wanted to make 003 their year, well, they're off to a good start. |
welcome to