We are honoured to be able to bring you an exclusive listen to the new self-titled EP from Sydney’s Iain T. McKelvey & the Midnight Tangos (ITMMT) due for general release tomorrow (Friday, 29 April 2022).
ITMMT have a genre-defying style – a mix of alt country mixed in with a gothic edge: a touch of southern twang and an air of faded decadence. ‘Dirt Streaked (Sing It Again) is a prime example with its twanging, jangling guitars and expressive vocals with an indelible melody. Songs like ‘Carrington Road’ have a countrified lilt and sparkle with a storytelling vibe soaked in emotion and authenticity.
McKelvey’s distinctive vocals shine in ‘Moon In A Blue Sky’ with its psychedelic sixties shimmer and thunderous heart that ebbs and flows. ‘Raise Your Wine’ in contrast has an indie jingle jangle shine edged by a subtle hint of slide guitar and delicate harmonies.
Single ‘Who I Was’ simmers with a deep intensity – crisp guitars feature and a distant haunting saxophone refrain adds an indelible atmosphere while singer Iain McKelvey’s voice has a deep resonance filled with pain, loss and resilience. McKelvey says of the track:
Facing down your shadows can be tough, but I also think it’s important to remember that they don’t have to dictate who we are or who we can be. I wanted this song to almost be a defiant celebration of everything that we are, the good and the bad and the in between. Ultimately If your shadow is going to stick around, I wanted a song that you could at least slow dance with it to.
The track exudes a whiskey-soaked red velvet lounge late night sense of excess and regret: a violin scrape underlying the sweeping, cinematic vision adding a barbed-wire edge. This is an epic and stately track – touched with a bit of americana and a just a touch of gothicism.
Final track ‘Steal Tomorrow’ with its a bluesy gospel flavour has naked expressive vocals over a pounding insistent drum beat that gives way to a fuzzy spine and demonic chanting. It’s brooding and dark and ominous.
This is an EP that is full of emotion and expression – drawing in a southern gothic flavour laced with an alt country thread with hints of darkness and delicious excess. You can exclusively listen to the EP though the link below below, and it is available pre-order here.
The band is launching the EP on Saturday, 21 May 2022 – details below.
