Winston's Zen

SINGLE REVIEW: COLUMBIA RECORDS – APRIL 6TH 2009

Oldham three piece Twisted Wheel had one hell of a 2008. After debuting on Columbia in spring with a classic slice of punk-rock, the acclaimed She’s A Weapon was followed with earthy, live-wire EP You Stole the Sun in the summer. By Autumn, fully installed as the North-West's latest indie-rock phenomenon, the trio were touring with the likes of Kasabian, Ian Brown and The Courteeners not to mention the mighty Oasis.

Johnny Brown and pals have, it seems, been filling their little black book with big-wig music contacts pretty quickly, and it shows. We Are Us, the lead single from their self titled debut album sees Noel Gallagher’s producer of choice Dave Sardy at the helm and his steadying influence and keen ear is evident throughout. Discernibly crisper and cleaner than earlier singles, We Are Us resists the urge to tear out of the starting blocks in a full-on frenzy of thrashing guitars, instead drawing the listener in with a neat drumroll and an uncharacteristically laid back vocal melody. The track builds steadily, layer by layer into a fists clenched, hands raised, head rocking ode to being young and invincible – complete with a punked up wig-out and Gallagher-esque snarling.

Have I mentioned Oasis enough yet? Well, the truth is it’s difficult not to. I want to tell you that this is the sound you expected The Enemy to re-launch with, before you heard Tom Clarke’s homage to Led Zep, and it probably is. But when Johnny snarls the instantly catching chorus “You will never change us, cos you are you and we are us” it comes burning with a vigour will cause those of a certain age to recall to the Gallagher brothers in their pomp, declaring their intentions to be rock-n-roll stars, and really fucking meaning it.

And somehow despite the potential hazards of the quickly-secured major label contract, it’s easy to believe Twisted Wheel really fucking mean it too.

We Are Us is pysically released on April 6th, but is currenlty available for download from all the usual places. The album follows on April 13th and Twisted Wheel have recently announced a UK headline tour to promote it - see MySpace for details.

Columbia have very kindly given Winston's Zen a CD and 7 inch single to give away.
You can get your greasy mitts on both by entering this competition.