Few great indie rock bands are built without an enthralling story to boot. The Encierro (acronym N*C*R*O), a five piece from Stirling, Scotland are no exception. Since their impressive start in 2003 where they excelled and won the esteemed Stella Artois Battle of the Bands (astonishingly within four weeks of forming, a feat not at the grasp of many) they have crafted themselves an extraordinary tale of talented music, rapid success and sold out shows. Now, The Encierro are ready to unveil their superb first official mini EP Be Yourself, a single likely to further catapult the group. The band’s ambitious story continued when the Stella Artois achievement was rewarded with £1500 and studio time, allowing them to record their first EP ‘Idiot Rock N Roll’ at the Glasgow based Cava Studios, where prominent acts such as Mogwai and David Byrne had recorded before. The Encierro appear to have already had a stellar ride since their somewhat quirky inception in 2003 at a swimming pool in Los Christianos, but the new single only adds to this further. Souey, Janek Kanikula, Junior Bone, John Liddell and James 'shoogz' McDonald comprise the quintet and with the Be Yourself EP, really give us a taste of that journey with three tracks strong in melody, percussion and riffs that tell a story in themselves.
The Encierro’s new EP really is as accomplished a debut single as a band is likely to put out, with a level of musical maturity that really shines through. The band’s progress from past tracks such as ‘The Girls Only Go Where The Coke Is’ and ‘Broken Record’ may be attributable to settling on a line up that truly works for them, and the result is an EP that really excels. The quality of the two B-sides accompanying Be Yourself are a joy to behold in an age where the radio edit remix has taken over from the days where bands showcased unreleased material on their singles. Here The Encierro pull out all the stops. The production on the title track Be yourself is homely, merging the electric and acoustic sides of the song seamlessly. The song drifts dreamily through the chorus, with the acoustic structure complimenting Souey’s vocals perfectly leading to a strong riff driven chorus. As it develops, the track builds to a potent, percussion filled, slick guitar licked ending. An almost R.E.M. style track in its beauty and composition, with slightly more of a Britpop undertone.
There is also an unnerving quality about both the B-sides on this single, quality not usually seen on a debut EP. The first being a Manic Street Preacher-esque style rock track titled Esconde Mi Mente. An instantly catchy tune that coupled with the subtle maracas and the exquisite jangly flamenco guitar riff, gives this powerful song an intriguing Spanish twist. The second track is an equally well written if altogether more direct style indie track. Things Get Better! has a glorious electric guitar riff reminiscent of groups like The Kooks or The View. The strained vocals of Souey give the track a rough quality rarely heard since The Strokes and the tight percussion of John Liddell gives the song an upbeat air that has you moving uncontrollably.
The band’s name (literally meaning the ‘lock-up’ in Spanish) refers to the notoriously dangerous Bull Run in Pamplona, Northern Spain, a furious pace that the group can relate to. Everything about The Encierro has you listening and wanting to know more, and given the rate they are hurtling towards stardom, this is a story that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
(Mark McDermott)
Be Yourself is released as a 3 track cd single/download on December 7th 2009 - Platform Records.
www.myspace.com/theencierro
With a name as exotic as The Encierro they should really hail from Spain, but Stirling? Regardless, the band specialise in the sort of inspiring songs that gave Britpop such gravitas. Take lead single ‘Be Yourself’ for example, with its subtle acoustic refrains and ever more delicate riffs, the track hints at the refined touch of REM combined with the melodic thoughtfulness of The Kooks. The key is in the production as the verses flow seamlessly into the chorus, gifting front man James Lafferty an imposing platform on which to deliver his impressively passionate vocals.Thankfully, ‘Esconde Mi Mente’ does offer an expectant flamboyance with its slight flamenco guitar and Lafferty’s notably catchy vocals playing second fiddle to cunning, building acoustic riffs. Final track ‘Things Get Better!’ hints at the band’s more traditional take on indie with a gloriously simple yet effective exchange between jangly electric guitar and Lafferty’s laboured vocals granting the track a homeliness evident on the single throughout. (10 out of 13, by Omar Soliman)
http://www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/cd_view.cgi?CDID=10598
The Encierro Be Yourself EP
ANOTHER debut - this time from a Stirling five-piece. Be Yourself is bouncy positive pop rock. Think Dodgy maybe or early Supergrass.
The chiming guitar through the song lifts this from just another Britpop workout to something rather more special.
Esconde Mi Mente kicks off with a film sample and sounds like Manic Street Preachers with the title being sung by James "Souey" Lafferty just like James Dean Bradfield.
However, the band again add a twist with the rhythm more like Animals-style R&B.
Third and final tune Things Get Better blends the two elements together - Lafferty adding some epic Manics vocals to a perky tune that will have the indie disco kids skipping as they go up for another cider and black.
The band launch their single at HMV Stirling on December 7.
They play The Apple Store, Glasgow, on December 10, Old Victoria, Falkirk, on December 11 and are back at HMV Stirling on December 12.
Be Yourself is out on December 7. www.myspace.com/theencierro
Rick Fulton (Daily Record - Soundcheck December 4th 09)
Scottish quintet Encierro's name means 'lock up' in Spanish and relates to a famous bull run in the northern town of Pamplona, the furious pace of which is matched by their indie rhythms.Début single 'Be Yourself' is a driving indie-pop number holding an electricity which, when coupled with front-man Souey's strained vocals, quickly proves irresistible. Two B-sides accompany, and are equally good; the Kookish 'Things Get Better' and the Spanish-flavoured 'Esconda Mi Mente' which shows some diversity. 4/5AW
http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/music-team-2636/new-releases-7th-dec-1802
by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday
FORMING in 2003 Stirling indie stalwarts The Encierro have seen it all in the local scene.
The band’s name means "lock up" in Spanish and is taken in reference to the notoriously dangerous bull run at Pamplona, Northern Spain.
After a number of line-up changes the current members Souey, Janek, Junior, Shoogs and Liddell have come together to release the band’s debut single "Be Yourself".
The result is a driving indie-pop track which brings to mind Britpop class act The Bluetones (who the band have supported in the past) and more contemporary bands such as The Enemy and One Night Only.
"Be Yourself" is supported by two B-sides including Spanish influenced "Esconde Mi Mente".
The release sees the band get out on the road once more including a date last weekend with ex-Oasis member Bonehead’s new band The Vortex.
The Vortex and The Encierro took to the stage last Saturday (November 14) at McQs in Bannockburn. The rest of the tour takes in dates in Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk, ending with a promotional gig in Stirling’s HMV on December 12.
You can find out more about The Encierro at http://www.myspace.com/theencierro
The Encierro’s debut single hits the shops on the December 7.
Details for the band’s upcoming gigs are on the band’s Myspace.
And by be yourself, I presume they mean be early REM. Because it's the early jingly-jangly sounds of said Georgian chancers that The Encierro seem to be trying to emulate on this, their debut single. So, if you like that sort of thing, then you'll like this.The B-side 'Esconde Me Mende' goes a bit more psych pop, and is all the better for it.
http://www.the-rocker.co.uk
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