Let’s get right to the bottom of those fabled grassroots. Right around the individual roots that you’d pull with aplomb if it weren’t a plant you’d like to blossom.
Terrible segues aside, what’s on the radar this week? Summer-soaked fresh singles, exclusively from bands proclaiming to be from the growing Sheffield scene.
Consider yourself a steel city skeptic? After my review of Arctic Monkeys at Hillsborough Park, I can’t say I blame you. But remain geographically agnostic, and you might find track that could narrate your coming weekends. See what you think.
Arkanian – Positions
It’s hard to make coherent noise rock riffs work. In bundling every instrument within arm’s reach into the studio, many artists just overwhelm ears, rather than entice them.
Not only have Arkanian avoid this common pitfall, but they’ve paired empathic, passionate refrain with a sensitive, but bubbling beginning that gives you just enough of a hint of the band’s dynamic delivery to keep you interested.
Get to the two-minute mark, and you’d be fooled into thinking you’d caught the skip button. The depth in the production of Positions makes excellent use of the contrasting weapons at the band’s disposal; the bright twang of an acoustic contrasted against someone committing a heinous crime against their Stratocaster.
Lonesome Dead – Dead Town
You’ll risk drowning in the depth this one has to offer. Don’t let the overdriven guitar tone or the punk stylings fool you – Dead Town switches frequently between despair, determination and delight throughout its short runtime.
It’s a brilliantly paced track, too. Many upstart bands fall into to the trap of making all the noise, all the time. Wielding an engaging, but calmer verse makes that inevitable high of the chorus all the more impactful.
Dive into the lyrics, and there’s plenty of room for interpretation, too. Is it a damning observation on the city’s growing gentrification? Is it a personal reflection on losing and finding hope? I reckon the latter.
Look out for more on the EP – Greatest Hits – soon, say around 11 August. I’m not doing the eyes emoji, but pretend I have.
Since Torino – I’m Not There
I can’t resist a band who have a well-produced sound with a coherent aesthetic. It helps if the music they produce is good, too. Enter easy listening folk and alt prospects Since Torino.
Considering I make a habit of this reviewing malarkey, easy listening can be a welcome reprieve for me. Selfishness aside, I’m Not There pairs only a sparse sprinkle of instrumentation with a clear, simple and crisp vocal delivery.
Its hook is accessible; its chorus elevates you without dropping you back into the verse from a great height; its solo leaves you wanting a second serving. A welcome reminder that easy listening is hard to make.