Moke may save rock. Moke may just save us all.
Formed in London in 1996, their sound spans anywhere from mellow 60s and modern rock 80s to New Millennium hard rock. Moke has classic rock sensibilities without flaccid rock drawbacks. What they do, essentially, is create a soundscape driven by solid guitars and adorned with thickly layered vocals.
Moke's sophomore release Carnival is chock full of hook-laden guitar and tight harmonies. Singer John Hogg goes from a classic rock howl to a rock/rap staccato to a Crosby Stills & Nash whisper without missing a beat. It's actually hard to do anything but listen to this album as it plays.
"My Degeneration" kicks off with a heavy blues riff and a classic rock vocal feel. "Hanging Around" sounds like Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine's happy love child, who was raised by the Beatles and is an incredible introduction to unknowing live audiences.
"Slide", the first single from Carnival, builds a mellow tapestry with light circular vocals and instrumentation until it punches you in the face. The funny thing is, though you were really into the mellowness of it all, you appreciate the impact.
Guitarist Sean Genockey and bassist Alex Evans find the obvious hooks that no one else has seemed to find until now. The snaky riff in "Liar" is a prime example. The marriage of Hogg, Evans, and Genockey with drummer John Morgan is what takes this album from a collection of great songs to an album that screams to be played at top volume.
Moke is a young band with much potential. As of now, they eclipse most rock bands. It's almost frightening to think what 10 years will do to them. If rock radio doesn't jump all over Moke, then to hell with radio.
All of the aforementioned praise goes double for their live performance and ten times as loud. "This show gets so much better and better and better!!!"
