Velvet Grooves

For those of you who don't know the Twilight Sad - they're one of the latest signings to the ever evolving and consistently brilliant Fatcat label. Based in Scotland, they're quite a few miles away from Brighton (Fatcats' home) - but yet there's such a buzz with these that people from all over the world are now aware of them. First in the UK, not they're exploding in the US. They've played multiple festivals (including SXSW) which have shot them into full propulsion on the road to success.

So - the Scottish flavour is full on in the new album 'Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters' - vocalist James Graham has such a strong accent, that it adds a lot of flavour to the record. There's no alterations here to make it sound 'better' - this is the raw stuff - the stuff you need to hear. But also it's worth noting that the record actually sounds like its been recorded live. And judging by the sound in this, peoples' comments about them being 'amazing & powerful' must be true!

I might be a bit quick to label this as Mogwai meets Sigur Ros meets a scottish Snow Patrol, but I don't think it's that far off. The sheer power in this would put some pressure on Mogwai to big up their sound a little - maybe a little more thrust on the over-drive. Tracks such as 'Walking For Two Hours', 'Cold Days From The Birdhouse' and 'And She Would Darken The Memory' all prove that they have a lot of kapow! in them to blow even an almost deaf-guys eardrums!. But where the skill lies is they also managed to do slower songs with more experimental subtle touches, which is probably why Fatcat chose them in the first place. Lush melodies, massive over-drive, lyrics to kill with (The kids were on fire / in the bedroom) and some top catchy choruses... these're supporting Snow Patrol soon with Ash... it won't be long till these're bigger than both!