Press Reviews Sonic Boom - Review by Charlie Wright - Yell Magazine. "As the nation readies itself for the wanton orgy of drug-fuelled hedonism that is festival season, Charlie Wright plunges headfirst into the murky world of rock and roll, taking a behind-the-headlines look at Berkshire’s foremost musical pioneers – the legend that is Sonic EP.val-goers descend en masse on sleepy rural locales, clutching only a change of pants and a party size flagon of industrial strength scrumpy, rejoicing as they tear down newly installed fences and trample beneath their sandal-clad feet the under-evolved Darwinian nightmares that masquerade as security personnel, so one up-and-coming Reading band are tearing down the boundaries of musical expression with the raw energy of their creative vision. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of Sonic EP.Born in the urban wasteland of the Tilehurst ghettos, their gritty industrial sound pays tribute to – while expanding on – a mind-blowingly eclectic variety of influences. At home on your stereo, Sonic EP is a rare jewel in the fallen crown of Britpop. Live, this extraordinary symphony in aural seduction builds to a deafening assault on the senses. Led by the multi-textured fret-warbling of Andrew ‘It’s a Shame About’ Raimond, epic electronic arias rip through the frenzied air with ear-splitting precision. Meanwhile, the vocal acrobatics of charismatic frontman Chris Howard, his fiercely political lyrics belied by the dreamy acoustic soundscapes he sketches on guitar, seize the consciousness and shake it like a deranged child with a maltreated pet.Former Yell stalwart and self-proclaimed messiah of drumming Owen Martin (of the Martin Family Band and iconic 80’s popsters The Housemartins, now performing regularly under his solo nom de musique of Badly Deformed Boy) excels, weaving his complex tapestries of rhythm with an effortless authority. Alex ‘Five Fingers’ Sinclair, his flaxen locks billowing heroically in the electrified breeze, forges an inspirational backdrop for the post-apocalyptic age with his uncompromisingly militant bass playing. The effect is devastating.Take the Fifth was fortunate enough to be present at their most recent performance – a heart-stopping 50-minute tirade at the 3B’s Bar in Reading town centre – an experience which left this reporter drained physically, emotionally and spiritually. As the dust settled, we found time to catch up with the men behind the legend. I asked Alex – widely regarded as potentially the most influential man in rock since Sean Lennon – whether he felt this soul-shredding extravaganza was just another in the pantheon of great nights for Sonic EP. “Tonight was right up there with the gig at the Egg & Spoon in Bracknell,” Alex enthused, wiping a bead of sweat from his glistening brow. “It’s always special to play in front of your home crowd. For me, it’s not all about the groupies or the fame. We have the chance to give these people a momentary glimmer of escape from their otherwise meaningless lives.” But such acclaim doesn’t come easy, even for artists of the stature of Sonic EP. Months – if not years – of planning are required for every show. “It’s a shame we gig so rarely,” muses Owen. “My fear is that by the time we’re ready to play again, music itself will have been replaced by some form of pastry-based item.” Perhaps. But until that time, surrender your senses to Sonic EP."

Location Reading, Berkshire - United Kingdom

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