Review from a website called elooporium
(check the links page for there site)

4 Track E.P
3-piece from Sheffield on display here. A warm and occasionally tender offering here.
First track is Flyaway and its a shimmering, stuttering beast. Im strangely reminded of the Eagles for some reason but I think thats just the fellers voice. The guitar mix of the fuzzy vibrato sound versus the straight clean strumalong sound works well and it has atmosphere and depth. Some casually nifty bass work goes on behind the scenes and it rattles through well. I like it after 3 listens. On a dark desert highway..

Second tune is Wasnt Meant To Be and we have a sparse mix of hi hat and snare with light guitar and a probing poppy bass. It again has a light American feel with pleasantly crafted chord progressions and a country airiness which would benefit from a more diverse musical accompaniment.

Next up is Everything and Nothing and we are in a bit of a pickle here with the guitars. This one wants to rock out a bit but is held back a bit by the intrusive strumming and a lack of confidence with the bigger guitar track. Has enough hooks and aggression to force the issue but ultimately falters. Rework this one a bit chaps, it has possibilities.

Final number is depressingly entitled Please Leave Me To Die. Bigger fuzzy guitars take more control here and the whole thing is more expansive without losing the drift of the vocal feel exhibited throughout the E.P. Again we have some attitude and catchiness and there is most definitely a style in here somewhere that needs teasing out. Im thinking something like Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt or Buffalo Tom for some reason its not instantly obvious.

A journey of an E.P really. Last Hour seem to metamorphosise during the 4 songs but retain a style of their own throughout. I think they need to polarize where they are going with their sound and work a bit on the layering and dynamics of the songs. On the gentler numbers they should consider further accompaniment to give flavour and fill out, and on the bigger numbers they should be bold enough to go where the song is taking them. Id be interested to hear more.

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Sorry for the last 4 gigs we have had to cancell due to various problems. These are beyond our control, 2 of them by the promotors/landlords, 1 through illness and 1 because of transport problems.

In all SORRY for the cancelled gigs.

The Band
Dave, Didz and Steve.D

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LAST HOUR Flyaway (CD-single)(Own Release)

If you listen to Last Hour, the critic can be its the kind of music thats been done before and that is the case but what can a musiclover say against some solid rock that has all the ingredients to form a splendid rock-pop combo? Absolutely nothing that is... Last Hour are from Sheffield and you feel on this five-track single that it are the kind of guys who have music in the veins and decided to form their band and what you expect is what you hear....indie rock to lick your fingers from, a bit like Cast with more balls....a bit like Tom Petty who got some adrenalin-injections by The Wildhearts... I dont know how to explain it, even if I know that I have to, but Last Hour are the kind of rock band from whom you know that you can do your daily things when theyre on but good its so good that your fingers are in the area of the repeat button and that is what we want....

By Didier Becu
original sin magazine
go to links page for link to the website

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16/11/2002

THE DEMO PAGE
From Rhythm Magazine

Last Hour from Sheffield are a standard rock three-piece, sounding in parts like the stereophonics and Bon Jovi. Theres nothing mind-blowing here as I am sure they would admit themselves. Where they excel beyond any band I know is with merchandise. You can pick up there recent CD for only 2 pounds. There is another CD also for 2 pounds, on offer called John Peels Judgement, a weird improv instrumental rock band. Not to sure if it contains members from Last Hour. The finest Item on sale is a three-CD 36 track anthology called Steve.D Musical History, featuring all the bands that Steve.D (last Hours Drummer) played with with between 1991-2001. Only 6 pounds. Bargain! Some would call that lunacy but I call it enterprise. Absolutely priceless.

Review by Matt Priest-drummer from Dodgy.

Thanks Matt

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13/10/2002

One thing I (Steve.D-Last Hour Drummer?)don't understand, at every gig we have done, we give away a free T Shirt and everyone stands there with blank faces thinking we are taking the piss. WE ARE NOT. I have to forcibly give it to someone every gig.

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06/10/2002

A review from Steve Bell
Contributor to on record music section in the Sunday times culture magazine

Flyaway
With its compounded rhythm hinting at a manic street preachers influence, this track reveals inventive, melodic bass playing supporting twin rhythm guitars. The confidant vocals and brash, slicing guitars over driven guitar give an anthemic quality to this song, which could be fully released in an extended form.
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Wasnt meant to be.
Strong bass holds this track together, revealing a slight lack of character in the rhythm guitar sound. However the sparse instrumentation sharpens the focus on a glimpse into a diary, providing thoughtful lyrics and a good song structure. Song writing abilities are present here, which would benefit from higher production values.
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Everything and Nothing
Subtle dynamics of guitar and drums introduce harder edged vocals with attitude. A strong composition and the bands enthusiasm is evident in the way they attack this track using changes in volume to create excitement. The clean rhythm guitar might sound too polite at times, but enhances the aggression of the other instruments.
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Please leave me to die.
As overdriven 6 strings injects some balls into the equation, and the vocals yearn with a welcome cynicism, the last hour show their ability to produce quality material extending beyond the 3 minute format. This style of hard-edged, but commercially viable rock is natural territory for the 3 piece with a big sound.

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03/10/2002

Sandman Review of Last Hour CD

Workmanlike rock. Fly a ways a pretty decent lead off, good chorus but with a verse melody that sails so close to Hotel California that it virtually knocks it of its bike and nicks its wallet. Theres a slightly strained Buffalo Tom influence on the other 3 tracks but since we dont mind parched melancholic rock, fair enough.

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09/24/2002

Review by Alan Ashforth
Contributor to Guitar Magazine?

Track 1, Fly Away,
This is a good catchy song with an interesting vocal melody. It is well sung and has some good bass guitar runs, which are complimented by subtle and tight drum fills.

Track 2, Wasn't Meant To Be,
This is the ballad of the CD and is listenable and well sung, but for me the music is too repetitive and below the creative writing level achieved in the other songs.

Track 3, Everything And Nothing,
This is rockier with a nice distorted guitar in the chorus, which acts as a hook line with its increase in power.

Track 4, Please Leave Me To Die,
This is my favourite track off the CD as its a power song with very meaty guitars. Again it has good bass guitar playing with a good bass sound and good drumming, that helps drive the beat. For me the highlight is the song structure, which is interesting and well composed, capped off with a good vocal melody line?

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8/2/02 1:40am

Saw you at the Boardwalk and thought you were fucking dire although the guitar tuning solo was marginally entertaining, if you can't be bothered to prepare for the gig and can't be bothered to bring any support with you whats the point in turning up!!!! Maybe the Barfly is the best place for you.
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from julian.widdop@tinyworld.co.uk