The Marches - Album Sampler Format: Album Release Date: 21st Jul 2008 Label: Loaded Records Rating: You’d think that The Marches would be some sort of trendy indie band but you couldn’t be further from the truth. Not that they’re not trendy. Just not solely indie. It’s just Rich Lane, an underground dance producer who’s decided to dabble in his own project. In essence The Marches is pure indie disco pop with influences from many eras. The album itself is not yet named, nor does it have a release date but this sampler is an exciting taste of what’s to come. ‘Baby Bloomer’ is an electro cross between The Beatles style and Blur’s ‘He Thought Of Cars’. A lazy dance song charged with some pretty intense lyrics and piano chords taking the lead. Mr Lane clearly is an intelligent bloke. His synthesized almost muted vocals compliment the song to make it his own and distinguishes him from other vocalists in the same field. It truly is a song of epic proportions for any music lover. The debut single of 2007 ‘Turn It Around’ is another fantastically chilled out dance number. A bit sexy some might say. It hints at a bass drop throughout the song but keeps you hanging on. There is no drop but strangely enough there’s no feeling of disappointment at the end. A shame this song didn’t do better in the charts but if there’s the chance of a re-release you never know. Other songs on the album include the reggae-influenced dub number ‘Yard Arm’ (which has the slight sound of Hard-Fi’s ’Cash Machine’ at the start…but let’s not hold it against him) and the anti-disco/pro-rock tune ‘Disco Sucks’. That one deserves a special mention. It’s pure funky disco pop absolutely ripping it out of dance music but Rich Lane sounds so serious. It’ll make you giggle.

Written by: Shelly Jo Elcock