UK indie power pop meets jangling americana

12 MP3 Songs
POP: Power Pop, ROCK: Americana



Details:
The Statue in the Stone is the debut album from Bronze, first released in January 2003 on The Bus Stop Label. UK indie power pop meets jangling americana.

Bronze came together in January 2001 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The line-up is: Paul Handyside, lead vocal, guitar and piano; Ade Evans, drums, vocals; Rob Tickell, bass guitar, vocals. Handyside had previous releases on Arista and Kitchenware Records with eighties indie band Hurrah!

"Full of the garage-rock sound currently gaining attention, as well as some polished Who-stuff, Hollies-psyche, and Beatle-isms that will make music lovers' teeth fall out from the sweet melodic goodness contained herein, the album is a pure pop joy. Anyone craving catchy melodies, concise meaningful guitar solos that don't wank on forever, and a primal garage-y thump that will shake your ass mightily, needs to buy this CD now. I would call it the best garage rock CD of the past two years but that would be limiting its' scope. It's one of the best guitar pop releases of the decade, is what it exactly is, and sounds more like a missing Revolver-era Beatles-slash-early R.E.M. time-meld track than anything else I've ever heard. Simply wonderful pop". {4 and a half stars}
Scott Homewood Erasing Clouds

"I think the theme of this issue is dreamy power pop. Bronze plays wonderfully-crafted stuff with plenty Byrds-y ringing guitar and slightly ragged harmonies. The songs are little gems, finely cut and exquisite at every facet.
... If I had to characterize the overall sound, I'd say this stuff is decidedly modern with more than a hint of 60s soul (no matter if the muse in question is Gram Parsons or Pete Townsend).
In truth, the only proper label for Bronze's music is "great." These are eminently hummable songs with real depth. There's always another layer to uncover, and repeat listens will reward time and time again. Some folks hit the nail on the head; Bronze obliterates the target completely."
John Worley Aiding & Abetting

"Paul Handyside's Bronze have hit the ground running with their first album, which wisely bounds in with not one but two fine singles ("let it rain" and the even better "presence of greatness", recently re-issued as a cd single and not far off the peak of Velvet Crush itself...) while we can't help but note that "happy honeymoon" and "pilot to your plane" both start with spiralling, confident guitar that could have come straight from Primal Scream's "sonic flower groove" songbook - seriously, like the Byrds in devil-may-care mood... "the statue in the stone" is a pounding, confident, profoundly musical album of modern rock music. How a band from the North-East (not renowned, it would be fair to say, for endless summers) can produce music seemingly made for the fm dial on your chevrolet camaro as you traverse endless highways in the simmering deep south, we don't know. Pop, with puissance."
ILWTT

"Paul Handyside, out of 80s indie guitar rock outfit Hurrah!, is the force behind this outstanding Britpop trio. This debut full-length is prime power pop of the highest order as Bronze suggest the Byrds, Big Star, Elvis Costello, Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush with authority on sublime songs like "Let It Rain," "Presence of Greatness" and "How Long". Recommended"
Kevin Mathews Fufkin