Silk Cut - Silk Cut - Album Review: Silk Cut
Having already released two EPs, and then followed up with full length album Our Place In The Stars, Silk Cut have returned to titillate your earholes with a brand new, self-titled album. The line-up of two guitars, bass, and drums also has shared lead vocals, and delivers a heady blend of 60's psychedelia and 90's guitar-based pop/rock.
First track Heavenly Nova has the two guitars kicking off with attitude, and a strong, dancefloor-friendly beat powers along underneath the lush vocals. There's a splendid musical tension to the chorus, and some nicely apt backing vocals. It builds to a riotous crescendo, before tailing off into silence. The Transfer has a pop-infused guitar line, and some beautiful vocal harmonies provide a very 60's feel to the psychedelic pop stylings, which the tasty wah-driven solo does nothing to dispel. Anywhere We Can Drive is jangly, post-punk goodness that washes over you, the fast pace of the rhythm section an excellent accompaniment to the road-trip theme. I bet this song absolutely goes off in a live setting. It's clear by now that we're dealing with some superb songsmithery, as the song blossoms to an epicness before its sudden stop. Among his other accomplishments, guitarist Justin McLean is a former member of Bike, and next up is a cover of Bike's Old And Blue, played with passion, grit, and oodles of taste.
In Turning The Whole World On, an acoustic guitar aids the feel of the soft, mellow intro. The vocal harmonies on this one are utterly divine, it doesn't get better than this. Keeping the acoustics in hand, Chip Away At The Stone is wonderfully rich and full, with thoughtful input from the electric guitars and the bass. A tambourine provides the very minimal percussion, and it has vocals for days, super stuff. Punches has a huge, open feel, with tight, fat toms carrying the day in the rhythm section, and the guitars and vocals providing a reflective mood, the vocal harmonies dripping with The Beatles in the best possible way, and a guitar solo of haunting beauty. Clearly not done with their role in the previous song, the namesakes of Tom Toms feature predominantly in this darker, angular track. Lyrically, it speaks of the distaste for an undesirable, delivered with suitably vitriolic tone, before another fade to silence. Contrastingly, Control Option Command is brimming with lively joy, and has radio appeal written all over it. It is positive and upbeat, with carefree lyrics, and a melody with hooks all over the place, leaving me feeling transported to a spring day.
Dead Star, however, has a disquieting intro, which leads into a wicked groove with an atmosphere that reminds me most excellently of Pink Floyd. I like the tension in this track, and it's my favourite of the album. Some effects redolent of Trip-Hop liberally sprinkled over the track add to the brooding atmosphere, and it's the longest track on the album by far, at well over 7 minutes.... which just flew by.
Finally, a cover of the theme music to The Professionals, and a thoroughly brilliant rendition, at that. A fantastic ending to a fantastic album.
This is timeless music, that you'll be listening to over and over again for decades, if you know what's good for you. Get it in your earholes, you won't regret it.
About Silk Cut
Apropos of the scheme of things it is entitled Our Place in the Stars.
Leading the band is guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter Andrew Thorne. Aidan Phillips keeps to bass and backing vocals. One fine drummer replaces another, whereby Jayden Lee takes the place of Mike Burrows. Just in time to save a tidy riff from the dustbin with a great vocal and guitar is Justin McLean, making a seamless and satisfying joint composition with Andrew on track 2.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Silk Cut
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