The Universal

May 2010

ZANI – Top Lads

With the recent release of Paul Wellers “Wake up the nation”, the nation should be well
and truly awakened by the release of The Universals self titled debut album. This album
is recommended listening for all Weller fans and indeed any music fans with a penchant
for a good guitar band in the “Mod Rock” style.  
                                                              
The Universal are a Liverpool band and are made up of four blokes.

Terry Shaughnessy on guitar and vocals, Piet Koehorst on lead guitar, Dave Ormsby on  
drums and Gary Chambers on bass. Although only together as a four piece for six months
already The Universal have supported Ocean Colour Scene and have a large following on
the live circuit, selling out venues in London, Coventry and Cardiff to name a few.

On first listen there will be obvious comparisons drawn with the Kinks, the Jam and with
the Small Faces ( from who they get their name ) but there's more to The Universal than
that. With a punchy guitar sound over a solid beat and Shaughnessy's vocals completing
the mix, their sound is one of the streets.

Their onstage presence is something to behold and you're guaranteed a gig to remember
should you catch them live.

The debut album is due for release on May 17th, with the debut single “Day in day out”
released on the 10th on the Diffusion Music label.

From the guttural bass intro to the opening track “ Revolution” to the wailing guitar of
track 10 “ Let it burn”, this album is a breath of fresh air....fired from a high pressure hose!
Every time I played the disc my hand reached to turn the volume up a notch or two and
I can honestly say I never skipped a track, which is a good sign in my book!

The Universal are destined for , dare I say it, universal acclaim. If you're looking for a
good ballsy guitar sound with a solid backbone of drum and bass and added to that a
vocalist who delivers the goods, you definitely wont be disappointed. So get in your cars,
on your scooters or shuffle those loafers and check The Universal out at a venue near you.

For further information and gig listings you can check out their MySpace page –

The Universal MySpace Page


                                                         
© Words Christina Boyle Fagan/ ZANI Ltd                                                                                                        

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