Stealing Sheep
Getintothis’ Matthew Wood explores the underground scenes with some emotion charged electronica, a multi-talented Manchester folk act and some of Liverpool’s top emerging psychedelia.
Single of the Week
Cut Glass Kings – Drifter
Recorded in a kitchen and produced by the Skelly brothers at Skeleton Key Records, Drifter is a hazy, mellow slice of psych rock with an admirable D.I.Y. vibe that only adds to their charisma.
Vocally, its brilliantly British with a sumptuous balance of effects giving it a distinct late Beatles air. The rest of the track meanders steadily, slowly burning, with a tasty layer of fuzz, to the top of our Singles Club as Single of the Week.
More of the same please lads.
Stealing Sheep – Apparition
Taking it upon themselves to have a stab at Morris dancing, our very own Stealing Sheep return with an intriguing arrangement to accompany their elegant, gloomy single Apparition.
It’s an entirely refreshing concoction of eccentricity and moody pop, topped off with some cracking choreography and camera tricks. Watch out for the round, dumbfounded postman and the truly terrifying apparition…
Tortoise – Gesceap
Rising to legendary status within the post-rock genre, Tortoise have transcended boundaries relentlessly since 1990. Their latest single ahead of the release of their first album since 2009: The Catastrophist exemplifies their total disregard for categorisation.
A mesmeric patchwork of synths loops and intertwines while an unorthodox drum pattern shuffles modestly along before joining force with a driving bass adding more layers and making it that bit harder to tap along to.
A real brainteaser that would be a real treat to see live, and an exclusive one at that with just one UK (London) show amongst their European tour, typical.
Youth Club – Pressure
Youth Club have a short history, but so far its been one of notable chart success with a top 10 spot in the iTunes alternative chart back in 2014.
Pressure seems bound for similar attention, boasting infectious percussion, sweet yet simple riffs and a bass sound taken straight from Bombay Bicycle Club’s So Long See You Tomorrow; it has all the elements of a chart topper.
Hit them up at Studio 2 11/11/15, they’re sure to get you moving.
The Besnard Lakes – Golden Lion
Consistent collaborator and producer Jace Lasek leads The Besnard Lakes alongside wife Olga Goreas towards their fifth album A Complex Coliseum Museum set for release 22nd January 2016.
Golden Lion trudges purposefully, expertly harmonised vocals permeating the meaty undercurrents before launching into a soaring chorus; chords expanding and ride cymbals ringing for a shimmering finish.
Arca – EN
Creating unique musical textures that test and tease the senses, the latest instalment from Arca is characteristically wonky and insightful.
Bombarding us with human gasps, submerging us into harsh electronic soundscapes and soothing us with twinkling piano keys, Arca is all about music as experience. The video certainly adds to such an ‘experience’ with a morphing seductive dance from Arca himself in some outrageous clobber.
By far this week’s weirdest.
Tina Refsnes – I Don’t Know
What’s a Singles Club without a unique blend of Scandinavian folk? A perfect accompaniment for an Autumn stroll, kicking leaves to the beat in a unnecessarily large jumper is, i’m sure, what Refsnes had in mind for this one.
Effortlessly melodic, the distinct vocals are as crisp as they are clear, while plucked strings and subtle shakers create an authentic folk feel, exalting classic folk acts such as Bright Eyes and Joni Mitchell, while performing on an impressive level of her own.
Landshapes – Francois
A minimalist Bloc Party-esque opening is immediately transformed by a seductively persuasive vocal delivery that sends this track towering above the clouds, ‘Francois, put on your dress’, urge the vocals, glinting with sincerity and wisdom.
Building up to a shimmering, colossal finale, it’s an outrageously powerful track, sublime in all areas. Submerge yourself into this one live at the Kazimier on 28th November.
Cult Party – Autumn Sweater Youth
That unnecessarily large jumper I mentioned earlier… yeah that one… you’re gonna need it again for Manchester based lo-fi enigma Leo Robinson aka Cult Party and his Autumnal anthem.
A man of many projects (and a mate of mine) Cult Party started out with an acoustic guitar and a Tascam 8-track recorder he robbed from high school. Watching him develop as a songwriter and musician has been a process that very few have had the pleasure to enjoy, but I can assure you Robinson has plenty left in store for us all.
A unique craftsman, Autumn Sweater Youth is the lead single for his next album ‘ETERNAL LOVE AND THE DEATH OF EVERYTHING’ and is, in his own words, a ‘floor-filler’… boasting a preset chord organ beat, twanging electric guitar and a coolly delivered baritone; floor-filler redefined.
Read previous editions of Singles Club
Sandy’s – Consolidated Identity
Channeling a lucid memory of his Dad and his dance company’s rehearsals, Alexi Glickman dabbles in the same irresistible chords and riffs as the likes of Real Estate for some real easy listening.
There’s a sense of longing, however, shrouded in gleeful riffs, but one can’t help but feel the cold delivery in Glickman’s vocals ‘now we wait for something to happen’ he muses. Struggling with the pains of growing up and losing friends along the way, it’s a coming of age ditty written in the forest.
DÉJÀ VEGA – PENTAGRAMS
Screeching and growling to life with some Sonic Youth tinged dissonant chords, launching into a kraut rock infused onslaught, PENTAGRAMS is a blistering track that’ll rattle some spinal columns in the mosh pit.
Dubbed as ‘Manchester’s best kept secret’, DÉJÀ VEGA recall prominent figures in the psych scene such as TOY and Telegram, applying their own British twang, one might describe as a less aggressive Eoin Loveless (Drenge).
Splashh – Pure Blue
Taking a similar route to psych favourite Tame Impala, synths taking prominence along with distinctly 80’s drum beats, it may not rival any tracks from Currents but very few would.
Possibly forced to alter their sound due to different band members, it’s a swift transition into a promising dreamy psychedelia, shot through with a heavy bass and Sasha Frantz’s yearning vocals ensure the Splashh sound remains somewhat in tact.
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