Reviewed by Jeremy Williams

Having only been together for six months, Crave have wasted no time in recording this four-track taster. Perhaps they could have done with waiting a little longer, as 'Ways And Means' feels like it was produced on a tight budget. The murky production steals the thunder of the snarling guitar intro of opener "I Fall Down", robbing the song of its initial impact. It still manages to engage however, in an early Foo Fighters grunge style. "Losing Control" continues in a mid-'90s American alternative sound, before the band display their quieter side with "Palm Of Your Hand" and "Not So". The latter starts slowly and then builds into a mighty epic, and it's a shame that the guitars and bass seem to founder in a sort of sonic swamp, as there's real ambition here. The songs call for arenas and stadiums, if someone would just give them the studio they deserve.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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