Kill Murray - A Drug to Shake You Up

(Self-released, 2012)

A group comprised of former members of sorely missed local bands (Dial F for Frankenstein, Olid, 50ft Panda and Phantom Theory), Kill Murray have obviously been tarred with that annoying supergroup brush but closer inspection reveals a band that really has tried to amalgamate their past sounds and forge something new. Coming across like a mature Dial F clashing with Interpol, Kill Murray are sleak but a little rough around the edges, catchy but with hooks that are embedded in a rhythmical stew.

Indeed, the rhythm section is pretty special; drummer Chris Hutchinson (formerly of Olid and 50ft Panda) is exceptional and brings significant clout to this EP while former Dial F bassist Scott McGregor seems to have learnt a few tricks from Carlos D. Together they form a funky backdrop to Gus Rogers and Aaron Delgado's post-grunge guitar racket. Opening track “Laser” is a moody start to the EP and one that is largely characterised by the interaction and counter rhythm of the stop-start bass line and finicky drumming. The track presents the greatest argument for Kill Murray being a brand new beast, not sounding entirely like any one of the members' previous bands but bringing elements of each band together.

“Detroit”, the most immediately catchy song on the EP, is pure Dial F however. It's true that there has been a distinct gap in the local music scene for a while now, a gap that Dial F for Frankenstein once filled with their simple, melodic songwriting and on “Detroit” you can hear glimpses of Dial F's “USA” and also some of the Electric Soft Parade's early material. “Superman” is another classic Gus Rogers song – an accomplished, catchy amalgam of grunge, glam and Britpop with a few electro touches. The electro influence (ie. the keyboards) continue into final track “Miracle, Man” which closes the EP in a similarly moody fashion to opening track “Laser.”

This is a good, solid debut EP from Kill Murray; there is huge potential here but there is also plenty of room to grow (you don't want to peak too early do you?). Gus is a talented songwriter and his fellow bandmates are all excellent musicians but A Drug to Shake You Up is not quite as addictive as you may have been hoping it would be. Not as immediately catchy as Dial F, not as fuzzy as Phantom Theory and not as heavy as Olid or 50ft Panda, Kill Murray are nonetheless at the start of a journey that will hopefully see them come into their own on future releases.

[Originally published on Music In Oxford, 24/06/2012]
http://www.musicinoxford.co.uk/2012/06/24/kill-murray-a-drug-to-shake-you-up-self-released/

Recent OMS cover stars Kill Murray have unleashed their debut EP of infectious pop-rock. Gus Rogers has always had a way with melodies, but in this new format the catchy songwriting is somewhat buried beneath layers of icy keyboards and off-kilter indie rhythms. Moody opening track “Laser” and “Detroit” both bring to mind Interpol, particularly in the interlocking musicianship of drummer Chris Hutchington and bassist Scott McGregor – a formidable rhythm section. The power pop of “Superhuman” recalls Weezer and Idlewild, while “Miracle, Man” sounds like fellow Oxford indie wunderkinds Wild Swim in the remarkable way that moods and textures are woven together effortlessly. This early in their career it's not clear exactly how Kill Murray will set themselves them apart from the rest of the pack – their sound is unmistakably Oxford but not unmistakably Kill Murray just yet. A jolly good EP that has stirred my interest if not quite shaken me up.

[Originally published in Oxfordshire Music Scene magazine, issue 19]
http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue19.pdf