From Russia with love

Even though I've been listening to Track 3 'Jessica' on repeat for the past day the demo just wouldn't do it for you. Rarely does a demo do anybody justice to anybody. None more so in this case of the Russia singer Ed Rice whose razor sharp belter of a voice on CD sounds rough, frail and at times broken, like a morning after a night on the JD and Lucky Strikes. A far stretch from the live performance we have witnessed in, ironically, a Rock Club just outside Manchester where Russia cast their calpyso spell upon the dazzled crowd.



Comparisons serve only to pigeonhole and flatter or infuriate the artist. The writer will always try to refrain from dallying in such simple descriptions but these names serve not to elaborate the description but to highlight the quality of such a band. When asked bluntly, prior to the soundcheck, "What do you sound like?", they offered Paul Simon as an influence. Of all the names that follow this is the hardest to pin on Russia. Paul Simon of Graceland, Lady Smith, Bridge Over? The safest thing said is you can dance to Russia like you can dance to Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes.



As the night progresses, to the obvious delight of the appreciative audience, voices chirp surreptitiously in the crowd. Bandied around are the names of legends, Van Morrisson, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and pop contemporaries of Razorlight and Vampire Weekend. These are frivolous likes and putting no stead in them we reach the crux of the caper, "It's not who you're compared to, it's how many records who you're compared to has sold." Food for thought?

It has been said the larger an area the band is named after the worse the band is. Russia are out to smash that rule.

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