Mick Mercer single review
Bands No Comments ᧈCC;
Sunday, November 01, 2009
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Strange, mysterious and interesting, that’s this band, whose Yorkshire-based origins go back to the 80’s, when they rejoiced in the name of Edo La Tree Le Plastic Elephants, but then they spilt off into Skeleton Crew and Malak Brood. Martin Johnson (guitar/vocals/keys) and Keith Young (bass/guitar/vocals) reformed in 1989 with the ill-advised name of Fruit Eating Bears (which was also once a dire punk band). That came to a very hasty finish, but still the pull exists, and they’ve been back a few years now tinkering away towards a greater purpose, for which they have recently been joined by Ed Morgan (keys/prog) and Estelline Kermagoret (vocals), so things are getting as serious as they are engaging. Both tracks are very cool and actually end up frustrating because they sound like to openings tracks of what would be a great album, and where is the album? It isn’t here. That disgraceful omission aside, ‘Anniversary Circle’ starts ominously, with rasping synth noise over a steady, solemn bass, with gaseous vocals flowing through. The mood is tense, the sounds juicy, like something ambient on fire, with vocals caught in the embers. It’s a powerful sound, with a steady vocal guiding presence, which gradually subsides and slips away, much like a suicidal vicar. ‘Take’ ups the Gothy ante, the female vocals creeping around the smouldering bass, with some rapacious guitar thrusting across, and gradually the vocals assert their genteel qualities, leaving the track to again ebb away carrying less threat and more charm. Curious. Where’s that album? http://www.anniversarycircle.com |
