 A little violent, a little tripped-out, and mostly apathetic. Somewhere between the introduction of the beaded doorway and sunglasses at night is Welcome's album, Sirs. There's most definitely a heavy '60s influence on their music, but they combine the stark Velvet Underground sound with a basement/garage grunge sound of the '90s.
It's true slacker cool, if you can hang with the crowd. Welcome features both a male and female vocalist, much like VU, but utilize them in different ways. Pete Brand's are more British Invasion-tinged while Jo Claxton's harmonize instead of drive. On "All Set" Brand's voice grinds through a sharp guitar storm. On "Bunky", Claxton lulls around a plucky guitar and splashy beat. Brand's vocals are the star, though, and do a nice job of smoothing out the rough guitars. Mostly angled and abrasive, the music throught Sirs recalls the underground revolution of a generation ago. On "This Minute", a tambourine drives a lite crunch and needling guitar before crashing into a buzzing, static explosion and back. If you're not careful, you'll think Sirs is forty years old. Above all else, Welcome are a nice refresher on a generally throwback sound. Thin, cringing guitars, echoed beatnik vocals, and erratic pop drumming give the feel of a lost mid-60's album. There's a sense of a mod power in the stylishly charming way they don't seem to care. Rhythms and melodies are recklessly thrown around and it's a good indication that the influence of the previous generation are still very much alive. -Chris Fore
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