Last year’s ‘astronaut’, the debut EP from New Zealand’s enigmatic Silk Cut (reviewed by me here) was a hazy dreamy introduction to a band that has, amongst its constituent members, a breadth of experience.
Singer/guitarist Andrew Thorne has played with Modern Chair – a collaboration between him and another veteran of the NZ music scene, Wayne Bell. (see review of EP ‘Can’t Look Back’ here). He returned with a solo self-titled EP under the moniker of Stingy Brim, with a touch more guitar, a little less electronica and a comforting layer of Beatlesque harmonies (see interview and review here). Silk Cut is a new collaboration between Thorne and Aidan Phillips (basses, voice), with Mike Burrows (drums, voice) and Tom Irvine (guitars, voice).
The new EP, ‘panda’, continues the direction that ‘astronaut’ set off in: dreamy landscapes framed by crystalline, shimmering guitars. Opening track ‘Run (Steal Away)’ travels with pace on an insistent bass and distant vocals that seem to float in the ether, replete with indelible melodies. A psychedelic fugue seems to curl its way through the track – a mesmerising repeated chorus and a spacey guitar solo add to the reverie. Perfect pop.
‘Build a Fire’ has an aquatic, floating style: it has a psychedelic folk-infused atmosphere with layered vocals and jangling guitars. ‘Lighthouse’ returns gently to the ground – the layered vocals filled with glorious harmonies but still touched with a psychedelic fugue. The anthemic choruses uplists and energises.
‘The Walk of a Dead Man’, as the title suggests, is a darker, ominous piece framed by sonorous Hammond organ sound. The instrumentation is spacey and driving: evoking an other worldly feel. The delightfully titled final track, ‘Wish You Were Lovely’ soars over an insistent bass and jangling guitars that ebb and flow. It has a hypnotic effect: recurring motifs and switches in pace and intensity.
‘panda’ has a distinct space/folk feel: a mix of dreamy, ambient vocals and instrumentation with layered harmonies and sparkling guitars. The singular thread throughout is the anthemic choruses, buttressed by an extra-terrestrial spaced out psychedelia.
You can download and stream the EP through all the usual outlets and via the link below:
