Percussive, punchy guitar and bass, wide ranging vocal melodies and harmonies, and intricate drumming: all within the context of solid, well-written songs. This is the music of The Ruse, a band that prefers to blur the divide between one instrument and the next. Barry Brady brings a guitar style influenced not only by numerous alternative-rockers but also jazz virtuosos such as John Abercrombie and Marc Ducret to the band; singer Phil West draws on his vast experience with numerous genres including classical, funk and reggae in adding his varied vocal treatment to the sound; drummer James Kneafsey supplies a tribal-like set of elaborate beats and backing vocals; and Tony McLaughlin, a past member of noted Irish bands Magnum Opus and Jonathan Casey, plays his own brand of jazz infused bass. The Ruse have performed in Dublin venues such as The Temple Bar Music Centre, Whelan's and Eamonn Doran's; in Queen's University in Belfast; and on radio stations including Newstalk 106, Anna Livia and West Dublin Access Radio. The band was originally founded by Kneafsey and Brady in 2002 but that line-up was not to be and the other members left the band in early 2005. After a brief search for a new vocalist, Kneafsey and Brady met Phil West. They immediately cancelled all other auditions and began rehearsals. These resulted in a number of acoustic gigs around Dublin and it was at one of these that The Ruse met Tony McLaughlin in November 2005. All members of The Ruse add their own influences to the song-writing process. Brady attended and graduated with merit from Newpark School of Music's Jazz Course in 2004. This has contributed to the high level of musicianship in the band and conviction in the songs. He performs regularly around Dublin with several modern jazz groups one of which, Sigh Fry, debuted at the Cork Jazz Festival in 2004. Kneafsey, a student of the classical guitar, places a great emphasis on the rhythmic element of the compositions, as can be heard in the unusual time signatures and percussive guitar parts. Overall, the bands that influence the sound of The Ruse include The Mars Volta, Radiohead, King Crimson, Tim Berne, Soundgarden, The Smashing Pumpkins, YourCodeNameIs: Milo, John Coltrane, Marc Ducret and Tool. 2006 will see new recordings from The Ruse, scores of gigs around Ireland, and further a field, and more radio play.