Plus Dots – Driven by an Unholy Desire
[Feedback sound, 2009]
Genre: ska punk, reggae punk, punk rock, hardcore
Album review by Goresonic and Sovereign

The story of Plus Dots started back in 2001 in Athens, Greece. The first two years of their music career, were a four member hardcore punk band. In 2003, two saxophonists were added in the line –up and this fact turned their music in a more ska –punk, reggae-punk style. With this line –up they gave a lot of live performances. In 2007, Plus Dots record their debut EP “Give Me One Kick Start Beat for Breakfast” in Feedback sounds record label. In this EP their hardcore punk pastness met their new ska punk style and created a music mix that we had never heard before. That year they decided to make some experiments with their sound, so they added a trumpet player in their line-up. These 2 years made them more mature to create their own sound, a mix of ska and reggae punk with some swing elements and of course with Oi and street punk influences as well. Year 2009 is a landmark year in the history of Plus dots as they had their first live shows around Europe. During this year they made two European tours, one in Central Europe playing in festivals and clubs during the summer and one in the Balkans during this month. This year also they produced their first full length album named “Driven by unholy desire”. I have listened to the album and even if I’m not a reggae fan I have to admit that the guys are really really good. In the first two songs, “My war” and “Morning”, trumpet and saxophones create a happy and dancing atmosphere. These songs have a reggae punk style with trumpet and saxophone riffs that stack in your head. “65”, the song that follows, it’s a ska-punk composition that continues the party. It’s a heavy song with great drums and real punk guitars which transformed into a more dancing ska-punk beat. The guys wanted to show us that they didn’t forget their music past with “EMS” an instrumental song: great punk rock guitar and a fantastic bass and drum rhythm section. The songs that I’m really stacked with are “Blame Authority” and “Time is up”. Everything in these songs is perfectly combined. The first one starts with a slow melody but with quick and crazy drums, then it gets crazy with a fantastic trumpet riff and a guitar string violation which is really hardcore punk. The second one impressed me with the way that is transformed from a reggae song into hardcore punk then to ska punk and back to reggae. “Victim” and “Dedication” are songs that could be perfect to start a live performance. Heavy, fast, with drums which change three rhythms in a row and pure hardcore vocals that are saying to you: tonight we will gonna to have a fucking good time. The closing song “Years ‘n’ years” is band’s goodbye to their audience.

Anyone that followed Plus dots these years could easily realize that they made a big effort and they are really developed as a band, especially the singer Nikos Fenerlis that tried to changed his accent which was one of band’s disadvantages in the past. The idea of adding the trumpet sound to their music was totally correct. Nikitas, the trumpet player, knows very well how to play this instrument. Mitch, the drummer, finally set free his proper talent. Chris, the guitar player, keeps the balance between the punk rock violence and the ska sounds of the saxophones and the trumpet.

Finally, I have to congratulate Feedback sound for the production which is more than good for the old standards and Aris p for making this mysterious and dark artwork.

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Live παρουσιαση δισκου

Αθήνα: An Club, Σολωμού 13 – 15, Εξάρχεια Σάββατο 31 Οκτωβρίου

Θεσσαλονίκη, BLOCK 33, πρωην Υδρογειος Τρίτη 3 Νοεμβρίου

“Morning”,”65”, “Blame Authrity” from the album available here

Links
http://www.myspace.com/plusdots
http://www.feedbackstudio.net

Buy the album here
http://www.musicpost.gr/mt/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3622&category_id=22&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=8

tracks
1. My war
2. Morning
3. 65
4. EMS
5. I need sometime
6. Blame Authority
7. Time is up
8. Ninja Cat
9. The end is near
10. Victim
11. Dedication
12. Years ‘n’ years