As the opening track of this Grimsby trio’s debut EP begins, it feels like it’s gently bubbling, like a simmering pot of something warm, wholesome, and nutritious. Sounding a bit like a combination of Biffy Clyro at their most commercial and early/pre-Eyes Open Snow Patrol, interpreting the dreamy shoegazey majesty of bands like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, it’s imbued with anxious energy and anthemic vision.
Reviewed here by Will earlier this year after it was released as a single, we agree that it’s certainly emotionally charged lyrically, but for us, the standout is the instrumentation.
Executed with an expertise that belies their apparent youth, it is an incredibly accomplished songwriting. They remind us of another young British indie band who crossed our paths not too long ago – Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange. Equally excellent and incredibly exciting, we’d highly recommend checking them out. This songwriting excellence carries over to track 2. Open My Eyes continues in a similar vein but feels even more emotive. A post-punk inspired track that’s about “wanting to gain a deeper understanding about an individual”, it is an insightful glance into the inner workings of another.
It seems to touch on veneers we put on – for one reason or another (“And I found out when you speak / you don’t say what you believe”) refusal to accept or come to terms with certain revelations (“And I can’t move past what I’ve seen / will you open my eyes?”) and, perhaps, substance misuse (“You let it go, it takes a hold / you feel the rush as it all kicks in”) – it’s pretty heavy stuff, but delivered in a very accessible way.
With songwriting on par with The Killers and instrumentation that feels like a blend of New Order and early Radiohead, this feels massive and incredibly well-balanced.
In Lines introduces an acoustic guitar to the mix, a texture we haven’t yet met. The band utilise it to excellent effect, adding depth and warmth to their widescreen sound and, in turn, coming across more reserved on this one. The closest they’ve come to a ballad so far, the song is sombre and sullen in the verses, but the mood is lifted in the chorus. Mazzy Star vibes mix and blend with Jeff Buckley-style chord progression,s and the resulting tune feels rather ambitious but actually very well realised. These boys certainly know their way around a tune.
The last tune is a 6-minute epic entitled You Should Know. Opening with a Transatlanticism-style piano accompanied by minimal background atmospheric decoration and joined in time by the returning acoustic guitar, this one is the bona fide ballad that they threatened to write on the previous song.
With its discordant electric guitar in the background, the classy acoustic and the mammoth musical scope, the instrumentation reminds us a little of our old favourites The National at times. There are also many poppier influences at play with the songwriting almost veering into Embrace or early Coldplay territory. It concludes with a full circle moment – a reprise of the motif that started the song, but this time played on guitar as opposed to the piano – the part bookends the song satisfyingly.
All in all, this is an exceedingly accomplished collection of songs executed with style and grace and bodes extremely well for the future of this bright young band.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
