07 Jul 2014 // A review by Epitomised_Drummer
Ever since my initial review of their debut single Bright Eyes I have developed an ear for Ashei, and have been actively following their movements on radio and TV having caught their awesome NZ On Air funded video on YouTube and on C4. I have been waiting eagerly to catch their well marketed EP titled Music Is Boring which I feel is such a cool title for an EP as it is the exact opposite of what Ashei's music really is.

The first song Ready For Morning kicks in with some nice reverse cross fades, and a slow but well crafted drumbeat. A true slow rock song which gives plenty of space for Emma Cameron's crisp voice to really pop from the instruments and set the tone for the EP.

The second song of course is their high energy rock single with elements of pop that I had previously reviewed that really shines through and draws you into the EP which of course means that you need to stick around and hear the next few tracks. My first perception of Ashei was that I would probably put them into the same category as Paramore, but the more I listen I really think they move away from the pop thing that Paramore have going on, they are very much their own rock band with their own sound which is quite distinctively unique. Being a drummer, I really do think the drumming on this EP is something for other drummers to aspire to - but that's not to detract from the rest of the EP. There is so much intricacy in every level of this EP that you have to really take a good listen to appreciate the level of production and songwriting that has gone in - when you hear the instrumentals in Cracked And Torn, your mind will be blown.

This really is one of the highest level EP's that I have heard released by a Kiwi band pretty much ever. If I was giving out a star rating, Ashei would be given the whole galaxy.

Formerly known as Ashei, there are a myriad of ways to describe NZ rock outfit, Decades, but one word that really summarises their so-far 5 year journey in sharing their music is simply: determination. Bursting on to the scene in 2009 led by a unique female voice that reaches both the gritty angst and delicate reservedness of the vocal spectrum, Decades have shown they are an independent Kiwi rock band to really watch with their shared passion for intense live performance and honest song writing.

Members Emma Cameron (vox/guitar), Liam Muir (guitar), Daniel Perry (drums) and Curtis Booth (bass) have spent the last several years focussing on honing in on their unique sound, independently releasing a scattering of singles and music videos to varying levels of local success, playing as many local shows as they could muster around their full-time day jobs, and supporting larger national and international acts such as Midnight Youth (NZ), Villainy (NZ), The Ataris (US), and Scary Kids Scaring Kids (US).

In 2013, Decades knew they were at a point of ‘go big or go home’, and so they began to envision what the next couple of years should look like, and how they were going to reach these milestones. Early 2013 saw Decades lock in with producer Matt Bartlem of Loose Stones Studios in QLD to create their debut record. Faced with the many obstacles of an independent band, the band launched - and achieved - a $10,000USD indiegogo crowd funding campaign in mid-2013, to head over to the studio in Australia to complete a 5-track EP.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Decades

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