Any Colour Black are from Glasgow. They consist of Louise and Andy - both play electric guitars and Louise sings. There's no bass guitar and the drum rhythms are sampled and programmed. Doesn't sound that exciting, does it - well, trust me, it is not only exciting - it's f***in awesome!!! The band are absolutely incendiary on stage and this EP conveys all of that and more. The opener is the title track and manages to combine those old favourites, sex and rock, as Louise breathes the intro over thudding drum beats, burst of guitar then this sultry vocal emerges, all hot and bothered, as bursts of guitar get louder as the tension rises and Louise sounds like she's primed and ready. Then it all erupts in a climactic surge of electricity as you're sharing the experience, surrounded by a rhythmic thunder, a huge outpouring of guitars and female vocals with eyes rolling and mouth wide open. Eventually, the whole thing just explodes in a wild roar of guitars, rhythms and vocals as Louise lets the hooks fly and refuses to let you down gently. It's one scorcher of a song and an experience you'll never tire of having.
"As You Are, As You Were" is a bit more sedate and studied, with a more yearning, emotive performence from Louise as the guitar clouds roll in over programmed rhythms that sound strong and powerful, the song itself gradually climbing ever higher before dropping back to its mix of power and wistful that is the central hook, then lifting off again slowly after that, all the time, the dark clouds of guitars threatening to dislodge their contents, which, with a mix of stinging leads and roaring riffs, they eventually do exactly that, before diving back into the sultry finale of the hook. "If I Could" starts with brooding electronics before a huge burst of guitars heralds a bouncing, strong rhythmic backing as Louise provides a song that's delivered with passion, emotion and intensity, extra depth coming from multi-tracking, as the guitars burn and riff, the chorus hurtles into view and the song is performed with an epic sounding arrangement that belies there are just two people involved. The sheer strength and depth of the sound and the song itself are amazing as the band unleash this river of guitar-drenched power that works as much by virtue of its intensity as its sheer force, on a song that one sizzler of a track.
"How You Have Fun" starts similarly with the soaring female vocal over electronic and programmed rhythms as the guitars chime and ring out in a different setting as the song gathers strength with a bas depth to the playing as the multi-tracked vocals simply cruise effortlessly through with a subtle density and a relaxed intensity. Then the arrangement starts to build as ever more rhythms, guitars, vocals and beats are piled on as it all briefly flares before dropping back to thise beats, chiming guitars and that wondorus sounding siren-like female vocal which drags you under its spell. Superb stuff! Finally, the CD ends with "Hot", a massive near three minute eruption of a song and the one that hinst the closest of just how mighty this band are in a live setting, as the observational lyric concerns sex once again, and the song itself does everything you'd want of it - rolling rhythms, flaring guitars, riffs gushing out and sweat-soaked female vocals giving the song all that they've got a the whole thing ends in a climax of guiatrs, vocals and rhythms that makes you feel....well, I'm sure you get the picture.
Make no mistake - this is one stunner of a CD that you really should own and do go see the band play live - both will become addictive - trust me!!