Reporters Announce 'Only Noise' EP

Reporters have announced a brand new EP, titled Only Noise, due out May 11th via Phret Records.

Only Noise is their second release, with the first being put out just last year and all on their own label, Phret Records. The Milton Keynes duo are making a stand with a dark, lo-fi jam that consists of hazy chords and electric energy rippling through the disruptive tones. Setting a high bar for the rest of the EP, the title track 'Only Noise' hits a contrasting effect of a very rich, mature youth. Frontman Dan Stock has also spoke about this, saying "I wanted to capture a youthful energy without it sounding cliched or throwaway". And this is definitely not throwaway, it has the potential to exist in our minds for a long time with honest, memorable lyrics.

The extended play was recorded over at Far Heath studios last December but, finally, all three tracks are ready to make an appearance and be available for us to hear. Being just 18 years old, this EP becomes an impressive piece of work showing an ability above their age and a promising future for the musical talents they hold. Only Noise is a release that will push them further into that specific sound they have and allow them to be noticed for the buzz music they are creating.

Only Noise track list:
1. Only Noise
2. Easy Does It
3. In A Minute (Acoustic)

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Daily Download... Reporters - Trouble In Paradise

Reporters are giving away their latest track "Trouble In Paradise", and even Frank Skinner played them this morning on his radio show on Absolute.

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Album Review... Reporters - Life Isn’t Televised

The fast growing rush of young Milton Keynes duo Reporters' hype has built in a very short space of time. Now complete with a BBC Introducing session and two singles, Dan Stock and Josh Ringsell’s debut album "Life Isn’t Televised" is due for release on 28th January. I was very interested in listening to see what they had to offer.

Reporters cite an urgent blend of early Libertines and The Black Keys – a naïve but capable stripped back lo-fi effort with elements of blues and rock. Opening with latest single ‘The Feud’, the immediacy hits me with the Pete Doherty-esque vocal style approach but backed up by a catchy chorus full of different hooks weaving within the song; lyrics of being ‘forever young’ and raising the rhetorical questions of asking how it feels to be adored. ‘Lamplight’ was their debut single and appears to be a different version to the single they released first off, nevertheless, it’s a true, honest song full of youthful innocence with the opening line ‘I am a man without ambitions or plans’ though in some places the guitar lacks clarity due to the scrappy style Dan Stock presents.

‘I’m Blue For You’ is a sweet modern day ballad in 6/8 and proves to be a nice chilled track which I class as a ‘crowd-swayer’. I’m a big fan of the Bryan Adams reference in the lyric ‘everything I do, I do it for you’, whether it was intentional or not doesn’t matter, it’s Bryan Adams! ‘Dying To Live’ and ‘What Are You Afraid Of?’ definitely help to resemble the lo-fi bluesy sound they represent although I can’t help but perceive these tracks as fillers, an EP of five strong tracks would prove better in my own opinion. ‘Dying To Live’ has a great tribal drum beat that flows the album through.

‘Can’t Contain’ is a frantic blast of pure energy. It’s so ballsy. Carried by a punchy guitar riff, the cocky lyrics proclaiming to ‘stop acting like you know me’ with the indecisive chanty chorus ‘Damned if I did, damned if I didn’t..’. Stock’s vocal phrasing gels really well with Ringsell’s powerful drumming.

My favourite track from the album is the last track ‘Have You Heard The News?’, a melancholy bittersweet love song completely contrasting from the other songs but works so well adjacently with them. The lyric content is years beyond their age with the grabbing line of ‘Lennon is dead the weatherman said it’s looking like rain’, it’s honest and effective.

Overall, the album thematically displays raw emotion and the innocence of longing for something else. The guys are very capable and I expect only better things from them in the future.

Reporters - Life Isn't Televised
Out of 10: 7/10

Written by - Courtney Askew-Conti

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