Well, it’s back to the future time again, as we woozily welcome in 1995. With happy hearts and sick stomachs and peace and integration high on the list of high hopes, we kick off Demo Parade with a mixture of groups from home and abroad.

The Diesel Queens are based in Hamburg, Germany. Made up of an American, an Irishman, a German and a Northern European, they play straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll but they do it with such class and style that it calls to mind Guns N’ Roses’ original swagger. ‘Wax’ opens with a phased drum pattern, leading into a tight funky bassline and ack ack wah wah guitar. American singer, Keener James Blond (huh?) gives it some serious, tuneful hollering and the whole thing works excellently.

‘9 Ball’ has that real shit-kickin’ bluesy rock groove. The slide guitar work from ex-pat, Brian Maguire, is bang on the mark and the rhythm section of Reverend Jason Scott (bass) and Stephen Krause (drums) would be hard to better. ‘Andy’ cools things down for about a minute with an almost acoustic first verse which opens into a huge epic soundscape before returning to an acoustic feel for the outro. ‘Shine’ is the final track and once again, it’s no dud, boasting a great melody, catchy backing vocals and more superb playing. Long may the Diesel Queens rock.

From Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, come the Bonafides, a four-piece guitar pop group. ‘Galvins Corners’ is the first of three songs. John McKenna has a high-pitched voice which perfectly suits the musical backdrop of a Peter Hook–style bassline, flailing rhythm guitar and straight beat. ‘Jealous’ features a highly effective rhythm change from verse into chorus and has a very attractive melody. Again, the band kick up a quiet storm with a special mention to the excellent rhythm section of Padraig J. Kirby on bass and John Coman on drums. ‘Blah! Blah! Blah!’ is a beautiful acoustic song and a very strong end to a very good demo indeed.

Red House are from Liverpool and name R.E.M., The Beach Boys and The Pogues among their many influences. This four song demo is a home produced affair and, unusually enough for this type of thing, it’s very good. ‘This Time I’ll Get It Right’ opens to a wash of guitar feedback overlain by acoustic guitars and vocals. The melody is strong and the song is well crafted. ‘Paint The Words’ opens with an eastern mantra and other atmospheric sounds. The vocals are heavily echoed which works well with the spacey, dreamy arrangement. ‘Colours Change’ has a folky feel, due in no small part to the picked acoustic melody line. This, along with keyboard washes and a very strong vocal melody make up for another cracker.

The closing number ‘Drowning’ is a more up-tempo affair. Thrown into the pot pourri we have an insistent drum machine, strummed acoustic and distorted electric. The melody and delivery are exuberant and full marks must be given for the clever arrangements and intelligent use of the home studio.

From Belfast, Left Of The Fertility Coil are a guitar-based four piece unit. The first track on this four-song tape is the painfully catchy ‘Green Utopia’. The music is an adrenaline rush of riffarama, tight bass and flailing drums a lá Keith Moon. ‘Celebration’ has a darker, heavier groove to it. The menacing bassline paves the way here. The guitar cuts in and out intermittently and the beat is straight and heavy. The melody has a yearning that you wouldn’t associate with the song’s title.

‘Naked Limbo’ is a much heavier kettle of fish again. This has a more up to date metal feel, with shades of Metallica, albeit without the vocal menace. A minor quibble here relates to the lack of power when the guitar goes into a solo. Surely a touch of overtracking would not have gone amiss? Final song and the pick of the bunch is the moody ‘Place I Know’. The slow, thoughtful intro crashes into a cascade of riffs and drums. The instruments here almost sound like early ’70’s Black Sabbath and the outro, with its brilliant use of keyboards and excellent drumming is a real standout performance.

• Kathryn McKinney

• Don’t forget to tune into the City Limits Youth Affairs show on Anna Livia Radio, 103·8 FM, Dublin, this Saturday (and every other!) from 10am — 12 noon for the complete low-down.