Way back in 2010, when the artists formerly known as End Of A Year became the artists currently known as Self Defense Family, the band added their numerous session musicians to the official line-up. As a result, Self Defense Family are possibly the largest band in punk-rock, currently consisting of fourteen different members. It’s puzzling then, that so many members can combine to create something so middle of the road as ‘Not Considered A Flight Risk’. The musical equivalent of ‘too many cooks’, the band’s opening offering to this split is a plodding, punk-by-numbers borefest, which offers little in the way of the excitement or fury of SDF at their best (see: this summer’s ‘The Corrections Officer In Me’ EP).
As a result, Cardiff’s Goodtime Boys are undoubtedly the more attractive proposition of this pairing. The long-awaited stopgap between last year’s phenomenal ‘What’s Left To Let Go’ and their upcoming debut album, ‘Dream Of Life’ retains the slowly building atmospherics of their previous work, though channels them through a more punk-infused overall sound, epitomised through frontman Alex Pennie’s more polished vocal. While not quite as visceral as their past output, this is a promising sneak peek at the upcoming debut from one of the UK’s most exciting prospects.
TOM CONNICK