Brighton-based quartet Had Sandy fuse bits of grunge, shoegaze, post-hardcore, emo and alt-rock to make songs that sound something like a hybrid of Pearl Jam, Hotline TNT, Funeral For A Friend, Hundred Reasons, Nine Black Alps, Fugazi and Bad Religion. It’s a curious blend of elements that end up producing something pretty unique. There’s an abrasiveness here that runs alongside beautiful melodies and scenic sonic soundscapes. The juxtaposition shouldn’t work on paper, but indeed it does.
There are moments on opening track Skin Graft where the guitars almost remind us of Johnny Marr’s work with The Smiths, but the vocal is about as far from Morrissey as you can get – having more in common with Mark Arm than the maudlin Mancunian maestro. There’s an energy on Lightning McSkinup that is a little reminiscent of Hell Is For Heroes. Grinding guitars, pounding drums, intriguing keys, and raw unabashed vocals. This is vivacious and vigorous. Same Skin has a Dinosaur Jr. quality to the music as it oscillates between gritty and glimmering – this blend of textures rounds off the EP beautifully.
The songs work excellently together and we must say, this is as excellently realised an EP as we can remember hearing. The songs don’t come across as three induvial tracks – but rather three chapters of the same piece of work – which is of course what they are. But they sound like they are.
The passion and musicianship on display here is inarguable. These songs are crafted with care, precision and expertise. You can tell the songs are a real labour of love and we bet they sound phenomenal live. Catch Had Sandy performing as part of Brighton’s upcoming Homegrown Festival along with more than 60 Brighton artists on Saturday 12th April.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
