The First Ones have a very thought provoking title for their new (July 24) released EP Raging Alter Egos.

The title fits the brace of songs well, as well as the phrase having a feature in the lyrics of the first track. The EP shows the huge development in the band’s sound that I noted after catching the band live for the first time in a while recently.

A friend of mine wrote for NME a couple of decades or more ago when it was a huge thing. He regaled tales of high jinx of evenings of coke and champagne after an interview/preview with the band of the day, then going back on the last train to his shared bedsit in a grotty part of the city, while they slept at the Ritz. So, I’m not sure if my interpretation fits, but that term Raging Alter Egos fits many in the music business precisely, even more so today. I’m lucky though I guess, dear reader, I’m boring and elderly in both spheres.

My favourite track on the First Ones Raging Alter Egos EP has to be the last one (haha), entitled Is This Natural. The band describe this track being recorded using the band’s usual lo-fi, no budget style, but I think that’s part of the charm, it has a demo feel, and could be a track that yet grows and gets rerecorded at some point.

The song has something of a long rock opera feel to it. There’s some Eastern twinges to the chords, and a nice flowing complexity in the rhythm. It’s a track that bridges between The First One’s initial ‘immediate’ sound of their early days, to their more complex, interesting and more paced style now.

Opening track MGS has as its title an acronym for a song where no-one could agree on a name.

MGS shows the grand ambition of the First Ones. There’s a lot of soaring chords, rolling vocables in the chorus, meaty guitar work and determined hard drums. MGS definitely brings out the hard rockier side of The First Ones, I’m almost taken back to the quality era of the likes of King Crimson and Jethro Tull here. I’m always pleased when there’s something deeper to spot than the usual indie influences.

The track indeed to my mind speaks about the conflict between the ordinary and the best life, and how to weave through life. Raging Alter Ego. Massive Grand Song is what I’ll go for.

MGS was professionally recorded at Vibrations Studios, Huddersfield with Piper Dawes producing and engineering the track, and supported by the Kirklees Year of Music fund (amazing how well that little project spread).  I’ll give a little wave to Piper, she used to pour me beer at the Parish.

Orchestrated Heartbreak is another more immediately recorded track (but live at Huddersfield University’s studios with a string arrangement to lift it).

This a sweet musically lush ballad which suits the simplier arrangement. There’s some great vocal harmony on this understated little tale of a lost love, and a nice release of the band’s throttle towards the end to give that sad mood an angry touch.

Contemplate My Rise cements The First One as meisters of hard indie. Fans of the likes of Cribs and The Pale White would be happy moshing to this one.

So summing up, there’s a nice variety on this EP which demonstrates the harder rock sensibilities of The First Ones, but which also draws in a deeper complexity to the music than you might first expect. A stepping stone EP for these lads.

* words tiggerligger
* images the band’s own (second one my own)