Review: Dirty Mitts – Hands Off EP

Independent (November 10^th 2023)

Reviewer: Grant Foster

Something different, as in it’s an EP rather than a full album.

Dirty Mitts formed in 2022, a four piece from U.K. Poland and Egypt now based in London.

The press blurb used the words ‘raw power’, ‘gritty authenticity’ and a ‘pinch of nostalgia’.

So what do we have?

A band that would like to be The Four Horsemen, Fin era Waysted or Little Caesar undoubtedly.

Before I get to the songs themselves, I want to address the production. The drums sound fabulous. No problem there. But the mix leaves the guitar too far down and the vocals far too up front. Do I humbly suggest a remix? Yes!  You only get one hit at this lads.

Vocalist Tommy Balaam is very much like the wine here, at first taste you’re not sure about it, but with repeated exposure it takes on a decent flavour. He’s a little too clean for my ears, think Frank C Starr and Ron Young. That’s how he needs to pitch his delivery.

The first track, ‘You Better Run!‘ trips along reasonably well until a strange middle 8 when Tommy veers from ‘we don’t like you’ to full on manic. Maybe it works live, I don’t know.

‘My Show‘ with its throbbing bass line promises much during the verse but ultimately comes up short in the chorus.

‘Women‘ is more like it. It has a good groove and vocal melody in the verse and the chorus is on the money. I can’t help thinking that backing vocals would really help lift the choruses. And bring the poor guitarist up in the mix! The song doubles up at the end and at last we get some of the ‘rampant energy’ we were promised.

A storm introduces final track ‘Ride The Storm‘. And guess what, DM have left their best until last. The guitar hook and the space between the guitar and vocal melody stands head and shoulders above anything else on offer. Tommy turns in his best performance. This, is what I was waiting for!

All in all, I think DM have promise. But, when you’re up against the likes of The Treatment, then it’s clear there’s more work needed in the song-writing department.

Tracklist:

01 You Better Run! (Villains Theme)

02 My Show

03 Ball and Chain

04 Women

05 Ride the Storm.