Far away in the land of the Canary Islands, a rock band called Basic Needs crafts hard rock verging on metal tracks that are charging and chaotic, breaking the otherwise peacefulness of the islands.
The band knocks out good ole guitar-driven classic rock with a heavy dose of R&B reminiscent of U.K. and U.S. bands of the late 1960s. There also elements of punk and as mentioned previously, metal; even a bit of garage and grunge.
On their new album, As It Is, the band throws down uptempo songs with rock vigor as the opening tracks “Best Years” and the more melodic “What If” clearly demonstrate.
Juan Mayor’s lead guitar licks dominate many of Basic Needs tracks and when playing live get enthusiastic responses from crowds.
Arcadio Melian`s impeccable basslines, influenced by his virtuoso classical guitar playing, boom across the 11-track album.
This is the case on the otherwise standout track, “Lemons,” that has a metal-like charge and guitar playing. The song “Gotta Feeling” has a powerful and blazing sonic resonance that shifts and sways with chunky chords.
“Evolution” is one of the more indie rock-type tracks on the entire album, with more subdued guitars and richer melodies than other songs.
The next song, “Traveler,” rumbles along with garage-rock like guitar, rhythm, and vocals from Txetxu (no idea the guy’s real name) and later a guitar solo from Mayor and dah-dah-dah choruses.
Things slow down and get a little sentimental on “I Believe,” although there is still an underlying rock attitude.
The track, “Fun,” is the grungiest – and one of the most captivating – track on the album with siren-like, buzzsaw dual guitars and moments where it slows and quiets down only to rise again to a slow-burning rocker. On drums, Shane O’Mahoney takes charge throughout the recording.
The album closes with two similar-sounding songs, “Falling,” which is the most spacious and soulful track on the album, sounding more like a 1970’s soft rock song than any other song on the album, and the woozy “Too Much Beer” which sounds more like a southern country rock song from the same era. These two final tracks are some of the standout songs on the album.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I’d have about the album is that the mixing and mastering could have been better in spots; the same can be said for the vocals, wherein some tracks in the first half of the album they sound a bit out of key and uninspired.
Something that I also say about most albums over nine tracks – make sure they each count.
If they can be left off, eight or nine, even seven solid tracks make for a strong L.P. in an era when the long-play album is all but dead. Anything over nine tracks is asking for quite a commitment from listeners nowadays.
Basic Needs began its journey in 2016, when the band members got together to feed a “basic need” to play music.
Right away, songs started to take shape in jam sessions. Gaining confidence with local support, the band went into the studio to record the E.P. What If in 2018. The title track single was a top track for weeks on local radio.
Soon after, a label signed the band and got them into the studio to record to record their debut L.P.
