The music coming from the North East just gets better and better. In recent years I have been astounded by the quality and originality of bands coming from the region and after a year of seeing and reviewing the likes of Frankie and Heartstrings, Everything Everything and Little Comets, along come Mammal Club.
The band Is about to release the Au EP, their debut. A four track collection of absolute genius. Trying to commit this band to a genre is near impossible; I‘m almost close to drawing comparisons to Yeasayer after listening to the first track ‘Otter’ but this band have done everything not to be pigeonholed. It’s kind of pop, but so much more, drawing influences from many other genres.
Messy and chaotic, yet remarkable well put together, the EP is permeated with rousing bass riffs along side subtle keyboard and synth elements, as well as powerful drums beats and cracking guitar picking. Track two ‘Out on the playground’ is a particularly remarkable effort for a song produced in the bands lock up in Newcastle. Lyrically the band deals with youth; its trials and lies, its death and love. Complex and catchy, the high pitched vocals of lead singer Wilson Astley works well with the bands regular input of chanting and shouting. The track ‘hang’ has some impressively fast verse vocals, and a thoughtful chorus “will you ever really solve any of this”. Some parts of the EP are incredibly dancey, I’m sure the band live would be pretty exciting.
A dramatic, chaotic and almost apocalyptic sound. It’s fantastic.
The Au Ep is released on the 2nd of May on Everybodys Stalking Records.
Mammal Club – The Au EP by everybodysstalking
There is plenty of opportunities to see these guys live. Check out their Myspace for more details.
15 April 2011 – Newcastle (EP Launch) – Secret Location
22 April 2011 – Newcastle – The Cluny
1 May 2011 – Salford – Sounds From The Other City
8 May 2011 – Durham – Durham Live
14 May 2011 – Brighton – The Great Escape
19 May 2011 – London – Stag & Dagger
23 May 2011 – Newcastle – The Other Rooms
28 May 2011 – Newcastle – Evolution Festival
9 June 2011 – Leeds – Baby Jupiter
8 July 2011 – Richmond – Vanilla Fuzz Showcase
12 August 2011 – County Durham – Leave Me Here Festival
