Mausi – Formerly: Paper Planes

Reviewed by Scott McLoughlin

Mausi are a quintessential Indie, University band experience. The Band however has ruined my flattering and ‘Punny’ review by changing their name (apparently for ‘legal reasons’). Formerly Paper Planes, they are now ‘Mausi’. Nevertheless due to my need to use aviation based metaphors, and as I haven’t seen them under their new name this review will still put across their high-flying nature. Though ‘Mausi’s can’t fly, unless you strap them to seagulls. I digress.

Despite only being a relatively new band they have a good range of original material and covers. Brother and sister (Thomas and Daisy) alternate between lead vox. Both have unique sing styles. As a consequence Mausi draw from a huge range of musical styles, and frequently delve into many genres. The truly take songs and make them their own. Set highlights include: the Planes own delightful compositions ‘Should I’ (enjoyable in both its acoustic and amplified forms), ‘What You Did Boy’, and a cover of Corrine Bailey Rae’s ‘put your records on’, a song that suits Daisy’s voice to a T. Daisy’s voice seems the kind that probably wouldn’t be out of place in a ‘50s speak easy. It has an effortlessly rich tone. Daisy’s harmonies also give Thomas’s ‘Indie style’ vocals a level of sophistication not usually encountered in grass roots music. Furthermore Mausi do not restrict themselves in the presentation of their live performance. [Cue ‘Plane’ based analogies] Mausi seem to ride thermals just as easily as an acoustic three piece or an electrified four piece. Ben and Benji (the bands lead guitarist and drummer) make Mausi’s decibel level comparable to that of a Boeing 747. The band might only be taxi-ing the runway at the moment, but they look destined to take of soon: unlike my metaphors. From now on I’ll be quiet as a ‘Mausi’…lame.

4/5
http://www.myspace.com/mausimusic