Who: Scott Hutchinson (Main Vocals, Rhythm Guitar) Grant Hutchinson (Percussion, Backing Vocals, Drums) Billy Kennedy (Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, and Backing Vocals) Andy Monaghan (Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) Gordon Skene (Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals).
Where: Selkirk, Scotland.
Why: Now I know the main rule is not to be biased about a band that you are reviewing but screw it they are truly worth every compliment they receive.
From slugging away on the touring circuit for the past few years and putting out three fantastic records they are finally making it into the big leagues having just secured a deal with Atlantic Records.
Starting off with ‘Sing the Greys’ released first through Hits the Fan Records and then later Fat Cat Records it shows the promise of Scott’s song writing particularly tracks like Square 9, Snake, Be Less Rude and Go Go Girls which are my personal album highlights.
‘Midnight Organ Fight’ is the groups second album and in my opinion the strongest out of the three. An honest, dark, heartfelt take on Scott’s split from his girlfriend of the time. On the first few listens is quite hard to take in, but through more listens shines the little shimmer of hope that each track gives you. It’s very hard to pick out a favourite track because taking away any of these tracks from the album will take away the structure and flow of the album. Starter ‘The Modern Leper’ sets out what the album is all about smart lyrical content, pounding drums and shimmering guitar chords with delicate melodies. Tracks like ‘Good Arms V Bad Arms’ truly shows the heart on sleeve approach Scott takes on this album “I don’t want you back, but I want to kill him” aids the heartbroken with violence. ‘Keep Yourself Warm’ is possibly the albums centrepiece (if I had to chose) starting with a four note melody played on a keyboard with a electric guitar and bass guitar ringing out chords until the pre-chorus where almost everything drops out other than Scott’s voice singing “You won’t find love in a hole, it takes more than fucking someone to keep yourself warm” a personal favourite.
The latest album ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ is a less personal album but none the less brilliant. The albums overall sound is far more layered than that of their previous efforts and in my mind built for bigger venues. Huge sounding anthems like ‘The Loneliness and the Scream’ and ‘Swim Until you Can’t See Land’ offer sweet melodies and hooks throughout. The instrumentation is a lot more clever and grander than previous albums with more keyboards involved and big percussion and sample sounds being used in the mix particularly opener ‘Things’. This in my eyes can only be positive because this is a band that truly deserves greater attention than they had been previously getting.
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