Savaging Spires:
We Should Be Dead Together:
Critical Heights:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
A couple of years ago saw the self-titled debut album from Savaging Spires get a release on the acclaimed Critical Heights, garnering a fair amount of positive press but not from this listener. Acutely and wilfully obscure and a challenge to listen to - I just didn't get it.
Some two years later and we hear that the Spires have well and truly ramped up their undoubted knack of creating an atmosphere and honed their songwriting skills by some degree to create something of a landmark collection of songs.
Acting as a precursor to forthcoming album 'proper' Horizon, WSBDT comprises the lead title-track and a pile of unissued exclusive gems that range from ramshackle singalong psych-folk (the lead track), woozy alt-pop (Fifty Percent Proof) and unsettling kitchen-sink harmonies (When The Devil Says) to slacked out naval-gazing (Stop The L Train), not too dissimilar to Arab Strap and Red House Painters converging during one almighty drug comedown (use your imagination).
The award for eeriest tune goes to Don't Let Lorraine Get Much Older, complete with repeated treated piano motif and weird dub effects all over the track, while the taped tracks and the harmonious epic Tales Of Pneumonia evoke comparisons with Dinosaur Jr's wayward acoustic experiments from back in the day.
Overall, We Should Be Dead Together isn't a party album by any means but it's an enthralling listen for the most part, bar a couple of mis-fires. Now - Bring me the Horizon.
We Should Be Dead Together:
Critical Heights:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Some two years later and we hear that the Spires have well and truly ramped up their undoubted knack of creating an atmosphere and honed their songwriting skills by some degree to create something of a landmark collection of songs.
Acting as a precursor to forthcoming album 'proper' Horizon, WSBDT comprises the lead title-track and a pile of unissued exclusive gems that range from ramshackle singalong psych-folk (the lead track), woozy alt-pop (Fifty Percent Proof) and unsettling kitchen-sink harmonies (When The Devil Says) to slacked out naval-gazing (Stop The L Train), not too dissimilar to Arab Strap and Red House Painters converging during one almighty drug comedown (use your imagination).
The award for eeriest tune goes to Don't Let Lorraine Get Much Older, complete with repeated treated piano motif and weird dub effects all over the track, while the taped tracks and the harmonious epic Tales Of Pneumonia evoke comparisons with Dinosaur Jr's wayward acoustic experiments from back in the day.
Overall, We Should Be Dead Together isn't a party album by any means but it's an enthralling listen for the most part, bar a couple of mis-fires. Now - Bring me the Horizon.