Another day, another fantastic new musical discovery. The Foxgloves are a new nu-gaze inspired band from Leeds who expertly blend elements from other rock subgenres – like post-punk, alternate rock and indie – to make a sound that’s distinctly theirs.
The Car Beside The Road is their debut EP and it makes quite the first impression.
It starts strong with “Stranger”. The Joy Division influence here is front and centre – the bassline has more than a touch of Transmission about it. This focal point is complemented by a grunge-style laxidasical vocal delivery and larger than life unrelenting drums. Eventually we’re introduced to a catchy-as-hell “do doo, do doo, do do doo do doo do” chorus part (with matching guitar melody, no less) – and it’s apparent that this lot know their way around a tune. All these ingredients come together over the course of the song to make something rather delicious. Stranger is a song that grows organically and eventually builds to a gratifying climax.
Second track “Reach You” starts and the band have turned up the post-punk guitars and the bass takes a backseat. “It’s the only way to reach you” goes the lyric” – and that it does. The vocal is airy, light and easily enjoyed. By the time the chorus comes around the track gets an injection of adrenaline and the song soars. My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Placebo – they’re all here. There’s even a touch of The Cure in the breakdown before the swirling shoegazey guitars come back in as the track ramps all the way up on its way out. What an outro.
“Eraser” takes the pace down and shifts the mood. It feels sombre and morose as it begins and as it progresses it creates a distinctly 1990s/Juliana Hatfield vibe. There’s a despondency in the vocal delivery that you don’t hear very often. The chorus is simple but effective and actually a bit of an earworm. Be warned, it may have you singing “Eraser, eraser” to yourself for the remainder of the day. The song concludes with an almost U2-esque lead guitar line which feels unlike the band at this point in the EP, but is a pleasantly surprising change of pace.
“Stay” starts innocently enough with a Velvet Underground-esque pairing of clean guitars and thumping drums but it soon evolves into a wall of sound, a tapestry of wonderful noise. Channeling the spirit of Lush and The Coteau Twins and chucking them in a blender with the sound of The Jesus & Mary Chain, the song builds to eventual scuzzy, fuzzy, hazy, lazy, shoegazey goodness.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
