Dixie Dix and The Rebel Pixies
Nightmare Of The Lonely Bard (EP)
Self-Released
To say that Dixie Dix and The Rebel Pixies have a fluid sound would be something of an understatement. Operating with boundless bravery, this Bournemouth-based bunch aren’t afraid to take a risk (or two), and that means their debut EP Nightmare Of The Lonely Bard never fails to throw up surprises (even on successive spins). The whole singer/songwriter genre has been defanged by artists smoothing the corners for mass consumption, yet Dixie is here to put the bite back in the form, and the opening track ‘Coffee’ holds the listener in vice-like jaws. Despite being a semi-acoustic number, it’s an attention-grabber that radiates a hypnotic glow from the speakers. However, this being a Dixie release means they don’t stay in one place for long, and the following ‘21st Fucked Up Century Teen’ is a caffeine buzz of a song that gets the blood pumping and pulses racing. It’s a sonic shift that could be jarring in other hands, yet Dixie makes the transition smoothly, and that means this EP, featuring five diverse, very different tracks, hangs together as a cohesive whole. It gives no clue where Dixie will go next musically, but on the strength of Nightmare Of The Lonely Bard, it’s bound to be interesting.
Review by Peter Dennis