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Press Quotes
Cambridge Fanzine
Jun '01
Menendez - A night in with My Bloody Valentine on the cough medicine.
Menendez - Probe Magazine
Feb '02
One of the most soothing natural sounds is that of waves gently caressing the shore. One of the most soothing man made sounds is that of Menendez. So it seems fitting that band and nature enjoy synchronicity at the beginning of Living On The Shore the opening track on the band's self-titled 8-track CD.
Not many bands with opening tracks lasting 14 minutes and 52 seconds can keep me listening. In fact, Menendez could be unique in having achieved it: "We try and specialise in deliberately doing unexpected sections, riffs, to baffle audiences" says Rachel.
Brother and sister Dan and Rachel (vocals/bass and keyboards/vocals) joined friends Pat (guitar/vocals) and Beaver (drums) over two years ago for rehearsals in Dan's bedroom. "It developed from there, our style of music is an eclectic mix of rock & mellow harmonious sounds - due to our diverse musical tastes. About a third of our set is instrumental."
I last saw Menendez in December with Being Drawn South (see November Probe) and The Bush The Tree And Me and was taken by the fact that their set was more an experience than a performance and more a feeling than a sound. The diversity and difference between each members taste is what makes Menendez what they are, four unique musical tastes coming together to soothe the world. With listening tastes from Turin Breaks to the Strokes (easy), Neil Young to Tomahawk and Godspeed You Black Emperor! to Slint we can be thankful for what the blend has made.
We can also hope that Menendez never mix their favourite drinks of coffee, Jack Daniels, draught Budvar and Scrumpy Jack, as I can be almost certain that this won't create such a pleasant experience. I asked the band to sum themselves up in a sentence. This was their untoppable reply: "We're the ones who wear the robes...clearly."
Jersey Evening Post
12 Nov' '04
Menendez are a gentle band that can conjure magical moments, the musical equivalent to a hot bath.
JANE DELMER
Jersey Evening Post
Menendez - LosingToday
Jul' '05
And as though to give your ears a little deserving rest along comes the rather wonderful quartet Menendez who feature brother and sister Rachel (vocals) and Daniel (bass). Again another ensemble who it seems have been cutting their teeth by issuing a few releases over the years (and again all missed by yours truly). The main attraction with Menendez is that they choose to wrap you around their finger rather than clobber the life out of you, plenty of deftly plucked nimble post rockist noodling though engagingly delivered with a canter like grace and threaded with a curiously space like pastoral dynamic all tripped superbly by Rachel's angelic vocals - kind of Bang Bang Machine gone rustic if you like.
MARK BARTON
LosingToday Magazine
Menendez - Crashlanding
Nov' '05
As a band Menendez appear shy and awkward but after tonight's show they could justifiably employ a little swagger in the future. Their music is seemingly at odds with most things going on in the local scene, but they might also easily tag onto the outer limits with some justification (exponents of the more fearsome end of the spectrum could be seen down the front gawping in admiration!). The songs are jagged, scary, silky and beautiful. They conjure up Brian Wilson's slightly more experimental moments along with some sixties Floyd psychedelia, and even a touch of Air's French disco leanings! Spooky harmonies laced around lazy hypnotic riffs and beats; a real David Lynch of a band! Menendez really enchanted me. Sparkly, give them a go.
FIDEL
Crashlanding Magazine
see: The West End Centre
Organ Magazine
Aug' '07
This is rather special, compelling, this is good. Menendez are fronted by the sublime brother-sister vocal harmonies of bass player Daniel and keyboardist Rachel Burroughs, this is the South East English four piece band's debut album. The line up is completed by the impressively restrained drums of Adrian Pringle and the intelligent uncluttered guitar of Patrick Hopkins. Delicate, quiet, minimal, refined, and really rather beautiful. Blissfully sustained textured chords, cracks of warm musical sunlight to bath in, their sound is deceptively lazy - in reality they're far from lazy and really rather cleverly brave. Brave in that they do things their own way rather that the obvious ways of so so many others feel the need to conform to. Menendez are post-rock flavoured, their sound and style is never that obvious though. Simple, pleasing, mellow, refined and just so so right. Breezy, sunny, uplifting, positive. I guess if you want reference points then maybe a relaxed Stereolab or a more rewarding Tortoise, really though to name drop others does their wonderful album a disservice - this is just a beautiful album and having it in your life will make your life just a little bit warmer and richer than it was yesterday, treat yourself.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK - ORGAN #216
Organ Magazine
