The Maple State - 'Joanna' (High Voltage) Released 19/02/07

The Maple State sound exactly how you would imagine from their name: slightly emo, and grown up in a place where they call autumn fall and huge red leaves sit on the trees. But, surprisingly enough, they are actually from the shores of the British Isles. Although they do sound somewhat American, ‘Joanna’ is an appealing little track that bobs along very nicely.  The vocals could do with a bit more work but altogether the song is attractive. ‘Wood And Rain’ gives more of the same but with military-sounding drum breaks and without being tedious. It goes to show that if boring, established British bands can make it into the charts (Snow Patrol, Embrace anyone?), then more interesting, fledgling bands like The Maple State have a potentially very bright future.