iNsoFar are a quartet from Surrey/Sussex who have bee proving themselves on the southern rock circuit and are now aiming to earn a name for themselves with a wider audience. 2007 has seen the band secure major sponsorship from Jagermeister (how bizarre as OMC so memorably put it) and sign for the independent label Not On Your Radio. Medicine for the Melancholic may well give the impression that its target audience is black clad wrist slashers, however, it’s actually a pretty upbeat collection of tunes with nifty melodies and catchy choruses. 

I have to say I wasn’t expecting much from this (no idea why) but right from the very first listen I was hooked on the sheer exuberance of the performances and excellent song writing. By no means are iNsoFar the finished article just yet but great potential is hinted at within the confines of the eight tracks on the mini album in front of us. The first track is Reach Out which has also been available as a limited edition single and is punky and vibrant and infectious as flu as the rock journo’s big book of clichés would say – lovely guitar as well. 

Citizen lasts a whole thirty seconds for some reason before segueing into Last Love which again shows that these boys and girls have a way with a tune, as indeed does Resonate, which hints at how good this band can become as there is a maturity about this song that bodes well. Never Wrong starts off in Green Day/The Offspring mode with more punkish guitars before giving way to a solid chorus that again is really rather fetching and, to me, begs out for somebody to throw money at them to give them the production they deserve. This song features another very tidy succinct guitar solo from Hannah Marie. 

Vanity is perhaps the most aggressive tune on the disc and contrasts nicely with the more melodic offerings and is followed by Walk Away which opens with a tasty Jean Jacques Burnel style bass line before the guitar kicks in and again leads to a more offbeat chorus – I’m not sold on the quality of the vocals on this one though. Why Forgive? Is the final song which, lyrically, would possibly be loved by the emo types but star of the show again is Hannah Marie and her guitar. 

All in all iNsoFar are a band to look out for in the future.

Let us know your views on Medicine For The Melancholic

 Track Listing

Reach Out
Citizen
Last Love
Resonate
Never Wrong
Vanity
Walk Away
Why Forgive

Line Up

Hannah Marie - Guitars
Paul B - Vocals
Deadman - Drums
Katy Briscoe - Bass