Whenever I read through a bands biography and press release these days, they all seemingly sing from the hymn sheet.
For instance; there will be talk of having a ‘huge chorus’ or comparing themselves to x, y and z of seminal bands, all of which they sound absolutely nothing like.
Frankly, it is bloody refreshing when the band in question not only provides an accurate description but also provide a few tunes which are pretty damn good, Book Group have managed just that and more.
There are colons and dashes within Homeward Sound’s melting pot of fuzz which is comparable to The Twilight Sad and Aereogramme, but crucially there is enough in this EP that suggests given the time, space and sweet beats this Edinburgh mob could really be onto something innovative and original.
‘Year of the Cat’ is a distorted assault of trembling guitars, smashing over a reverb of irrational bass, at times the music is on a crash course with the vocals, but for whatever reason it works when it really, really shouldn’t.
Closer ‘Summer of Lunches’ sums the quartet up best, there are heavy guitars enshrined with hazily entrenched vocals.
It’s like listening to a Beach Fossils record on fast forward, which can be nice; it can also be very different, which is what Book Group is essentially, different.
Words: Chris Kelman
