Experimental, eclectic psych-folk influenced in part by Cale-era Velvet Underground, Raincoats and Slits proto-feminist post-punk a dash of the village fete arts-and-crafts Midsommar look all conjure up in this exciting, passionate, theatrically entertaining debut by the Brighton quartet. With John Cale-reminiscent fiddle and cello, twacking bass lines, primal drums and impassioned, ritualistic, dramatic narrative talk-shouting delivery, it’s a striking combination. Opener The New Eve, rising to an climax, is something of a manifesto describing a Bacchic sort of Eve who “eats what she wants to eat/ Every fruit from every tree/ She devours, guiltlessly/ And thick, red fruit blood run down her hungry mouth/ And thick, red fruit blood run down her naked thighs” and yet there’s a slightly humorous additional description of this ferocious and lustful woman who also “eats baked beans / Cries into her pillow, watches TV / The New Eves runs across ancient fields/ At the dawn of humanity.” Highway Man is a ballad with an exciting, raw sound with a falling bass line that resembles that of the marvellous Brightish all-female 60s garage-style Monks cover band Ye Nuns. Another highlight, Cow Song, also has a catchy thump rhythm with strong, semi-yodelled vocal harmonies and rises to a fabulous frenzy of violins. Seductive, theatrical fun runs throughout this record, from the atmospheric Mid-Air Glass to the particularly Velvets but also pastoral, pagan Astrolabe (“With your midnight eyes / Child of carnal desire, child of fire”). Circles also summons images of a shouty, trance-like sacrifice-dance around a fire, but dramatises a bigger picture with vivid opening lines: “This is a creation story/ Of the first sunrise in primordial chaos / Angels welcoming the dirt / Fire and ice.” Rivers Run Red is another highlight with added flute, psychedelic guitars, strings and spoken word, repeating the title into a state of frenzy, while closer Volcano is an 8:31 slow-build epic, exploding into screaming excitement as well as passages of quiet intimacy, and continuing the blood image as it spurts, phallically, from the earth. Primal, pagan, stirring, visceral entertainment in a thoroughly fun and confident debut. Out on Transgressive Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar X, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: