We’re Left ‘Only Just Holding On’ With Review of Forty Four Hours EP

Forty Four Hours 3

Manchester trio Forty Four Hours present fresh sounding alt-rock, which combined with the sweet sibling harmonies of twins Joe and Alex Holden, makes for a great new release in their EP ‘Only Just Holding On’.

There’s something about bands featuring siblings: the harmonies of those who come from the same parents are naturally closer – tight even – than those from different families. It stands to reason therefore, that the harmonies of identical twins should be even closer still; and this is quite evident in that of Joe and Alex.

A four track EP, ‘Only Just Holding On’, is fast paced and rocky, held together by the skilled drums of Alix Foden. It’s hard to classify the music of Forty Four Hours in terms of genre. On the one hand it reminds us of the bands that filled the American Top 40 in the 70s and 80s: bands like REO Speedwagon, Chicago, and so on. On the other hand, it’s got a real “pub rock” feel about it. At the same time – there’s something undefinable. Loud and fast, eminently danceable, the music of Forty Four Hours is described best in their own words – “schizoid alternative pop rock”.

We’ve heard (and enjoyed) lead track ‘Hold On’ a fair few times, so we weren’t too surprised to find that the other tracks, ‘Difficult’, ‘Pressure and Sleep’, and ‘The Time And The Place’ are all as expertly executed.

Listening to ‘Difficult’, we’re reminded a lot of The Police – and of course then the penny drops why when we remember Joe’s Essential Weekly Playlist, in which he included not one, but two Police albums among those he couldn’t live without. It’s not a bad thing – the sound pays homage, without replicating exactly – but it’s clear that Messers Sumner, Summers and Copeland have had a strong influence on Joe’s vocal and writing style.

Our favourite song on the EP would have to be ‘Pressure and Sleep’. There’s a really familiar feel to it – something reminds us of ‘A Thousand Miles’, by Vanessa Carlton – but it’s different still. The song could easily find its way onto a movie soundtrack, as could any of the others, because the production quality is top notch and professional.

‘Only Just Holding On’, the brand new EP from Forty Four Hours, is available on iTunes or from the band’s website. You can find Forty Four Hours online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Catch them live next at The Alma, in Bolton, on 20 February. They’ll also be performing at O’Riley’s, Hull, on 25 February.

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About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com

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