Providing a complete break from the indie norm Coat Hooks make a welcome return with a new EP to follow up last year’s single ‘Popcorn Blues’.
To The Waters And The Wild starts auspiciously with a short burst of solid instrumental in ‘Treehead’.
‘To The Staring Husks’ begins with a bassline that wouldn’t look out of place coming from the hands of Peter Hook.
It melds into a really well harmonised vocal performance from band founder and frontman Andrew Lindsay who has a clear, well rounded voice that sounds like it’s coming from deep within – a very soulful singer indeed.
‘Sellotape’ has one of the most beautiful guitar picks you’ll hear in a long time, worthy of Martin Carthy in terms of proficiency. Combined with a droll and slightly downbeat vocal performance, it makes for a really nice break midway in the record – before it explodes into a bluesy and delightful end.
‘Give Me Back My Keys’ starts with a brilliant bassline before exploding into an intense Joy Division style song which has a close knit feeling of darkness to it.
Compared to the other tracks it’s edgy and nervy (not in a bad way) it just showcases that these guys can play adeptly in more than one style and do it really well.
To The Waters And The Wild finishes with the previously mentioned ‘Popcorn Blues’, a calming come down, gentle and a solid reminder that real, good indie can still be musically adept and not just a simple one card trick.
Keep your ears peeled at the very end of the track for a little glimpse of comic cheekiness too.
Words: Imogen Reed
