I've been carrying on a one-sided love affair with London's ROYAL TREATMENT PLANT ever since I first heard their song "You Don't Need Me" back in October of '06. It made my Best Of mix that month, and I still find it a nearly perfect blend of dance/thrash pop/rock.
Turns out, the band has been keeping some other gems up its collective sleeve, and the members were generous/sympathetic enough to throw a bone to this sad-sack, unrequited-love junkie. Perhaps seeing it as the audio equivalent of a pity-fuck, the group agreed to send me an MP3 of their new single "Carry Me" [available from iTUNES and AMAZON.COM (UK) as a four-song EP].
Lo and behold, a signature sound -- in an "empowering," not "restrictive" sense -- begins to emerge. SAM's sharp, staccato, sometimes siren-like guitar. TOMMY T's understated, retro, sense-of-menace synth fills. CHRIS and DJ's rumbling, cymbal-crash rhythm section. And, above it all, frontwoman PRINCESS P's playful yet authoritatively aggro vox -- effortlessly escalating from a coo to a caterwaul.
BLONDIE as covered by SONIC YOUTH? No, not exactly. But if that's enough candy to get you into the smiling-televangelist-man's Caddy, then go ahead and take the bait. The right tunes can make any ride worth risking.
ROYAL TREATMENT PLANT on MySPACE.
ROYAL TREATMENT PLANT on stage...
Feb 2 2007 8:00P/On The TV present GIRLS!GIRLS!GIRLS! @ The Luminaire/London
Feb 17 2007 8:00P/Feeling Gloomy Club Night @ Bar Academy/London
Feb 21 2007 8:00P/The Social, London/London
Mar 1 2007 8:00P/Another Form of Relief/London
Mar 21 2007 8:00P/Industry, London/London
Mar 28 2007 8:00P/Headphones off @ Catch/London
Mar 31 2007 3:00P/Ladyfest @ The Loft/Cambridge
[MP3] "Carry Me"
[MP3] "You Don't Need Me"
[MP3] "Trained"
[MP3] "Funky" [live]
I totally agree, "You Don't Need Me" in your 06 mix was my favourite song of the month if not the year and was quickly thrown into my "I LIKE THIS" folder. Since then I've done my research on them and they have grown on me further, excellent new sound!!
ReplyDeletehey thanks so much for posting us on your blog, music is our world, rtp x
ReplyDeleteHey! I just found your site when googling RTP. I saw them play a couple of weeks ago and they were ON FIRE! Where can I get more?
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't think i had enough room on my MP3 player for more tracks, but have deleted some stuff to get these onto it.
ReplyDeleteConsider me a fan. When are they coming stateside?
Just love this band. Seen them live 3 times now and know they are destined for a fun, fun, fun future!
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