Judging by the lyrics of 'Love Lost', I guess Bokaata must
have grown up listening to Greg McDonald – more tales
of teenage yearning and defeat and loss than you could wave
a wilting chrysanthemum at. Other influences I also approve
of – The Manics (spiky awkward Holy Bible verses seducing
us into huge melody soaked choruses) , the surging, wonky
electronica of The Automatic and the frantic guitars of Placebo
all glued together by a taut vocal intensity. However, despite
all this arresting electric guts-grabbing power, my favourite
track has to be the acoustic lament 'Refugee'. A very impressive,
professional sounding debut from this Cambridge based 3 piece;
now the question is whether they have the energy, imagination
and bottle to take on the mediocre tastemongers and fading
scenesters to get their music the audience it requires.
To read the original review on the R*E*P*E*A*T website
click
here.