It’s tricky to choose one genre that this alternative London band fits into and each track on this EP straddles several simultaneously. But the focus here is not on pigeon-holing The Bedroom Hour.

The band comprises:
Stuart Drummond – lead vocals
Dan Rider – Bass/backing vocals
Mark Dudley – Keyboard
Lewis Cosham – Drums
Rob Payne – Guitar/backing vocals

Since its launch in May this year the EP has been received a good response from fans and ardent social media users. It’s easy to see why.

“Shadow Boxer” is an awesome first track and in my opinion, the highlight of the EP. The nearly two minute long intro paints a sounds cape coloured with sampling, a hypnotic guitar and a steady rhythm which is disrupted by a key change and commanding vocals.

Whilst “Tyrannosaur” has an element of EDM to it with its synth and increased BPM, “Themes” which follows is a bit of a non-sequitur. The extremely brief title track has an etherealness and impalpable quality created by vocal distortion and repetitive piano notes. In all honesty it sounds a little creepy.

The opening bars of “Midnight Game” sound a bit like Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” but the catchy refrain prevents any further comparison to it. It’s on this track that Drummond’s vocals sound most like Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

The dominant percussion of “X Marks The Spot” feels more dominant that Drummond’s vocals. Despite this imbalance the melody and romantic lyrics contrast well to make it a great track.

“Slow Motion Cinema” is gently epic and has received some well deserved attention having been aired on BBC Introducing and Scotland’s Amazing Radio. The lyrics are lachrymose, heartfelt and deeply moving – a reflection on Drummond’s loss (his mother passed away last year having lost her fight with pancreatic cancer).

‘Themes’ is an unconventional mesh of haunting melodies, ethereal synths, psychedelic soaring guitars and deeply emotive lyrics. It contains so many contradictions; rawness with finesse, delicate melodies, chunky bass lines, dark subjects and spritely beats which all combine well to deliver an EP that is a triumph.

“X Marks The Spot” 

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LIVE DATES:
Saturday 2nd November – Night and Day Café, Manchester
Saturday 15th November – 229 The Venue, London (residency)
Saturday 18th October – 229 The Venue, London (residency)