In 2007, a quiet town known as Bury St Edmunds, was about to be put on the map when Mike Smith (bass/guitar/vocals), Neil Baldwin (drums/vocals) and Seymour Patrick (guitars/vocals) came together to form Ten City Nation.

After self-releasing two albums in 2008 and 2009 on their website as free downloads, this band gained critical praise from NME, Rock Sound and Artrocker, radio play from John Kennedy at XFM and an interview on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6music show, and shot straight to number 49 in Tower Records USA’s Alternate Top 100.

Releasing their new double-A side single, ‘Hidden Shadows/ The Air Is On Fire’ on R*E*P*E*A*T Records, it is to form part of the Love Music Hate Racism EP. This is an EP comprising of a 19 track compilation available for the price of a single and is to help and promote the campaign for Love Music Hate Racism.

‘Hidden Shadows’ has a rocky beat, with some great guitar riffs and gritty vocals. There is a steady beat throughout and it’s quite a catchy tune for a rock song.

The intro to ‘The Air is on Fire’ is dark and deep which peters out to a light and airy guitar solo. The vocals are brighter until we move into the chorus where everything becomes frantic and urgent.

I like that this band have used their initiative and released albums and singles off their own back. Ten City Nation are a hard working band and they are definitely starting to see the benefits now.

7

Helena Rea