The Porn Issue in the Media
TPI on the radio
Jingle Recording: Eartunes Radio - 6th November 2010
Interview: Eartunes Radio - 17th October 2010
Interview: 4014 Project - 31st August 2010
TPI in the Press
Interview: livelifewest.com 24th April 2011
My Disguise EP Review by Rhythm & Booze Webzine
My Disguise by The Porn Issue was thrust into my hands by a good friend of mine instructing me to take a listen and to write something up about the four-track EP.
I thought I should do a little research about the band before waxing lyrical about their wares; The Porn Issue are a Wiltshire based three-piece that first formed back in 2008, since consolidating their line-up the trio have been busy playing up and down the country building a strong fan base across the UK.
The band are said to take a number of influences everything from jazz to funk, via melodic rock and grunge to create their varied and unique sound. The My Disguise EP sees the band deliver a varied and intriguing mix and match of styles.
The opening number, Raucous Groove is somewhat aptly named, the band deliver a stunning hard hitting funk-laden instrumental that's peppered by the occasional vocal sample and post punk outburst. In fact Raucous Groove has perhaps more in common with the short lived No Wave scene, reminding me of perhaps a less frantic James Chance number (without the yelping), as opening statements it serves as an intriguing introduction to the band.
Track two, Paupers Melody is a clever mix of intricate jazzy post rock guitar, funky bass, heavier rock interludes and melodic almost drawled vocals, drawing the listener into their strange shapes and intoxicating brew. Use opens with a delicate strummed guitar before developing into another twisted jazz tinged rock opus complete with down-tuned metallic riffs, plodding bass, a massive vocal hook and more twists and turns than you can possibly imagine.
The EP is completed by the stunning title track, My Disguise, a song that opens with a down pour of rain and a wonderfully expressive guitar riff before swelling into a huge powerful chorus that's complimented by a barrage of drums and an orgy of fret manipulation. My Disguise is a stunning track full of peaks and dips ranging from the melodic to the frantic summing up what The Porn Issue are about, a force of nature that'll either confuse or bewitch.
The Porn Issue aren't for the faint hearted, they don't create nice sing-a-long pop, instead they equally confuse and compel, they twist and they turn, creating new shapes and sounds along the way, brilliant yet baffling EP for the open minded.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 9
Reviewer: Will Munn
My Disguise EP Review by Southsonic.co.uk
South West funk-rock band The Porn Issue have released their new EP My Disguise, consisting of five tracks. The EP highlights the raw and punchy style of the band, who combine a trace of jazz with soulful vocals and rock aspirations.
The relatively unknown group - who have become local heroes - are a trio who hail from Calne in South West England, consisting of founder and singer/songwriter Daz Gossage, drummer Lee Epplestone and bassist Leo Pulvirenti.
First track, Raucous Groove, largely shows off the band's instrumental talents and with spoken style vocals over the top it is a pleasant surprise. The track is a brilliant opener to the EP; it immediately displays the captivating and gripping style that the band has. The track sets up the listener for the varied style of the EP and highlights the mixed sound of funky and jazzy but at times chilled out rock.
Pauper's Melody is intense and, from the outset, keeps the listener hooked and wanting more. It reaches its peak at the end just in time for the brilliant third track Use. Although 'Paupers Melody' is not the strongest on the EP, this song continues with the varied style and is a good lead up to the rest of the EP. 'Use', track three, is one of the EP's highlights. It perfectly shows what the talented band members can do with their instruments - from the punchy vocals to the strong bass line and brilliant use of guitar, the track is immense.
The penultimate and title track, again, jumps about between genres and goes from being chilled in parts to screaming vocals in others. Filling eight minutes 31 seconds with such a variation of musical genres is no mean feat but somehow The Porn Issue manages it perfectly in My Disguise. The highlight of the five track EP is definitely the hidden track Summer Is Breathing, where the trio show off their talent. This final song is a lot more chilled out than some of the other tracks but still maintains the strong guitar sounds and soulful, laid back vocals.
Despite having only been formed at the end of 2008, it is difficult to think of another band to compare this one to. This EP is a surprisingly good and laid back listen and with such a varied and interesting sound it is definitely worth keeping an eye on the band's website for live gigs.
Reviewer: Natalie Clarke
My Disguise EP Review by Live Music Scene
The Porn Issue may only be just two years old, having formed in November 2008 and picked up musicians along the way, but they have an intensely raw sound which goes against the grain of much of todays' smoothed out music.
The first track, 'Raucous Groove' is a mixture of funk, jazz, prog rock and chill out (yes, chill out). It switches between these styles as the track progresses with a sample of conversation dipping in and out. I have to admit I loved the chilled section; it was like Reef's 'Summers In Bloom' all over again and there's an essence of early Red Hot Chilli Peppers too. A great opener.
'Paupers Melody' keeps in with the RHCP style mixed with what sounds like jazz drums. It's interesting how funk and jazz are so often mixed together; they bounce off each other really well. The outro of 'Paupers Melody' has a shoe-gazer element to it; it sounds as if it's building up to something yet it never gets there! Instead of the relief we're all expecting it just stops. At first I was a bit taken back, why the build?! Then as track three 'Use' started I realised this is what it was building towards. This is the stand out track, Leo's bass line is immense throughout and the gritty guitar is only introduced just at the end of the verse before Daz's Raw vocals snarl "I've seen the light that you shine" begins. The ending of this track is brilliant as well, there is layer upon layer of this one line; it packs a punch. Is this a bitter song?
My my my, what a track to close on too. The sample of rain at the start got me; samples of sound effects are greatly under used. This track is where the EP takes its name 'My Disguise', and, dare I say this? It is a mini musical rock opera of 14 minutes. This song jumps all over the place testing the waters of the different genres they play and take influence from; shoe gazer, prog rock, military drumming (there is a bit in this song, trust me), epic guitar solos throughout and a Daz screeching "It's my disguise!" There is dramatic thunderstorm either at the end of the track or in the middle, I wasn't too sure if it was used as a break in the middle or to connect the track to a secret track. I believe it is the latter as when the hidden track, 'Summer Is Breathing' started it wasn't as dark as 'My Disguise', the guitar is far lighter and the vocals are softer. I enjoyed this song, so I strongly suggest you don�t turn off when you get to the huge rain storm thinking it's an outro because it isn't, as I now know, it's a link to this final song. 'Summer Is Breathing' has one of the most catchy lyrics on the EP, "Na na na na Summer is breathing".
The boys already have a couple of demo CDs, a debut EP called Dog Bowling is also out, and now they�ve added 'My Disguise' to their catalogue.
Reviewer: Laura Geary Griffin
My Disguise EP Review by Green Man Music
It's always nice to be presented with something that takes you by surprise and having reviewed their music around the time of their previous release, Dog Bowling, I thought I had them neatly pigeonholed. However, like any band worth their salt, they are still able to throw a bit of a curve ball and offer up a new take on what they do.
Raucous Groove plants one foot firmly in the realms of progressive rock, structurally speaking, though with the blends of groove and phased out funk that is immediately identifiable as their core sound. What is great about this song is that it proves that they have matured to a place where they are confident enough to open up their latest release with a very experimental, wonderfully dynamic instrumental, not the expected starting point but as an opening salvo it really nails their colours to the mast.
Pauper's Melody and Use really nail down their new slant on their music. Their unique blend of punked up funk and mutated jazz fuelled rock is still the driving force but it is the twist and turns within the songs, the light and shade, the peaks and troughs that move this beyond the Funkadelic influences of the previous release and into something totally unique, but something that occasionally reminisces of a heavier, often more brutal take on the likes of The Soft Machine, Weather Report or even Frank Zappa.
If each of the tracks so far gives you a taste of the various boundaries they are currently pushing, the title track brings them all together in a gloriously epic, swansong. Moving seamlessly from smooth lilting grooves, to raucous sub-metal anthems, non-musical bridges, warped keyboard washes and mid paced atmospheric jazz-pop, it really is an ambitious piece and one that for all it's challenges to the listen really does ultimately pay off.
My Disguise sees The Porn Issue moving away from the more expected rock structures and blatant funk forms, great though they are at it, and into a wholly more experimental place, one where they have been daring enough to move outside their comfort zones and really explore music. If the previous e.p. acted as a way of announcing themselves, this is a coming of age piece that really has seen them up their game, both as players and writers.
Reviewer: Dave Franklin
My Disguise EP Launch Review by Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
Three-piece local heroes The Porn Issue celebrated the release of their EP in fine style on a wet and cold Saturday night in Calne's Wheatsheaf venue.
With a clear contingent of local support, the band (comprising singer/guitarist Daz Gossage, bassist Leo Pulvirenti, and drummer Lee Epplestone) tore through a diverse and furious set of largely hook-laden rock, with a sprinkling of funk, jazz and punk influences.
Songs such as My Disguise, Hit The Ground as well as Space Beyond Space from their previous Dog Bowling EP were played with effortless enthusiasm and ensured that every instrument was shown off as much as the other without being pretentious or indulgent.
The band covered two songs, T-Rex's 20th Century Boy and Lenny Kravitz's American Woman, the first of which developed into a great ending jam, and the latter being given a gloss of funk from Daz's guitar.
Rounding the set off with Brink Of Destruction, a darker song that swelled and built up in the verse before breaking out into a punk chorus, and POW! with its rousing "POW right in the kisser" sing-a-long, which was a slab of pure funk-rock.
Last song The Ghost Room changed direction again demonstrating an anthemic chorus with Pearl Jam-esque vocals, and delicate guitar lines.
The Porn Issue gave a solid, entertaining performance that shows great promise, song-writing talent, musicianship, and a love of live music.
Despite playing only for an hour, the overwhelming feeling was that they could have played all night as long as people were listening.
Reviewer: Simon Faulkner
Dog Bowling EP Review by Rockpulse.co.uk
Wiltshire three piece The Porn Issue dip their toes into a broad spectrum of musical styles on debut EP 'Dog Bowling'; with a multitude of seventies style classic rock riffs, bass driven funk sections and a prog influenced grasp on dynamic song structure, this is anything but trendy, and all the more notable for it.
Distilling the essence of an especially prolific jam session onto these six tracks, the band retain the raw, unpretentious immediacy of a group of musicians playing together for the sheer joy of it, 'Safe' and the lengthy 'Brink of Destruction' showcasing their eccentric slant and rather infectious enthusiasm. There's little doubt that said qualities would make for an enjoyable live show, and 'Dog Bowling' serves as an interesting introduction, the hor d'oeuvres before this ultimately satisfying main course.
Announcing yourselves to the world is rarely a simple feat, the fine line between demonstrating potential and prematurely revealing all that you have to offer often proving frustratingly difficult for bands to discern, so this release is a small victory for The Porn Issue, providing enough to get prospective fans on side yet keeping much in reserve for future releases. Just take care when you're googling the band-name, yeah?
Reviewer: Robert Sayce
Dog Bowling EP Review by Live Music Scene
This is a band who have the confidence in their music to let it speak for itself, and rightly so. They have the faith in their music that every musician should have - the faith that they know if they keep plugging away they'll grab the attention of someone, even if it's just to sell another EP.
The Porn Issue possess what can only be described as a raw charm. Yes the music is recorded to a high quality, but you get the original feel of the music when listening to it, especially when you listen to opener 'The Ghost Room', you could almost be there when they recorded it. In fact, when it comes to 'The Ghost Room', you'll find the riff from the chorus stuck in your head for hours, unable to dislodge it, no matter what else you listen to. Annoying yes, but it shows they can write one hell of a catchy riff for it to be around for that long after you listen to it.
This is a rock band who likes to push their limits - bringing themselves to the edge and sharply pulling themselves back in. They each go off on their own little tangents before they reel themselves back in and continue with the song. As strange as this may sound, it works, and it works well. The Porn Issue are making a little niche for themselves, they aren't trying to sound like another band, they're trying to mix it up. The EP is full of effects on guitars, looping riffs, breakdowns and vocals which at times seem to float off into the distance, kind of like some of the old prog rock songs.
You won't get mind-blowing lyrics or complex riffs that make you question for hours how they do it with this band, but you'll get a band that is fun, with a real funky edge. This is a band who seem like they're enjoying what they're doing, that they can take it seriously, but they can also laugh at themselves if something doesn't work out quite the way it was planned. This EP is full of what sounds like experiments for this band as they try out different styles within the rock genre. The EP may be filled with what can only be described as a mish-mash of songs as the pace quickens and slows, but you know what, it works.
The Porn Issue have earned themselves a well deserved home on my MP4 player amongst other local bands like Left Side Brain, Cars On Fire and Medallist. For one, how could you not love an EP that's got a track on it simply called 'Pow!' I'll be trying to catch this band live, so I hope you do the same thing.
Reviewer: Jodie Humphries
Myspace Demos review by Green Man Music/Swindon Advertiser
Oil and Water, business and pleasure, reality and television, funk and rock, all things that, under normal circumstances, should never be mixed. Except occasionally a band comes along that prove the last pairing don't always have to belong to that list. In my experience the local circuit has offered up a few acts who have tried to inject a bit of funk into the rock genre and whilst the sound in their heads might be the Red Hot Chilli Peppers the result seems to have all the bite of a deflated capsicum well past it's sell by date. Actually, mentioning Anthony Kiedis' band of Californucators is just a go to reference for lazy journalism, it won't happen again. So to recap, I am yet to see a good funk rock fusion treading the boards locally. But then, I haven't seen The Porn Issue, and if their myspace musical waxings are anything to go by, I have been missing a treat.
They may have their feet grounded largely in a rock idiom, but the extra detail and the quality of the song writing is what makes this transcend lesser efforts. Some of the songs, Hit the Ground being a good example, are really built around the bass line, coming at you like Defunkt in a foul mood. Pow! Takes this vibe, tips not just a hat, but pretty much a full tuxedo to the likes of Parliament Funkadelic and the result is an infectious, groove tsunami of epic proportions.
But those songs showcase only one side of the bands capability. Other songs to be found there are created more from heavy acid rock components and Brink of Destruction pushes their personal musical boundaries even further, starting with a worryingly country rock ballad state of affairs but quickly redeeming itself by undergoing a dramatic mutation and blooming into a heavy progressive workout.
It's a strange brew, although all of their references points seem to be from scenes at least thirty years past, there is nothing retro about the music this trio make. And they make it so well. Every aspect seems to be considered and crafted into the best tool for the job, guitars skank or grind as required, bass lines groove or growl and the drums punch or para-diddle to make the necessary point. Is there nothing they can't do well? I bet if you asked them nicely they would re-tile the bathroom and make a damned fine job of it too.