For this weeks installment of Twin Atlantic rules my world I offer you info on their adorable new release on Red Bull Records, Vivarium. An 8 song bounce around that is so worth the time to find.
I am very worried that some of you are going to stamp this band ‘Scottish’ and consider them a niche’. They are not. Today let’s talk about the band shall we?
Sam McTrusty – Guitar
Barry McKenna – Guitar, Cello
Ross McNae – Bass Guitar, Piano
Craig Kneale – Drums
Within these 8 songs these band members are able to pull off something that is rarely done well. Go from power to ballad to psychedelic and back seamlessly. Credit good production or credit great musicianship I am so very pleased to have come across these guys. I’ve intentionally left off lead vocals because I fear that they will be all you hear or discuss. (Yes, Sam is Scottish; yes he has a heavy accent. We can cover that another time.)
What is important for you to know about Vivarium is the buffet it offers. It seems to me that “Where is the Light? Where is the Laughter?’ is going to be the single representing. If I had my way (which I do, come to think of it) Id opt for “Lightspeed”. A drum filled carousel of swirly hyptnotica opens up to a rally cry of vein popping sound. Go get some headphones for this one and listen deep. There are literally 4 songs going on at once. The bass is the only consistent sound and I adore it. The hook is there and this song is GREAT to run to. The interesting about Twin Atlantic is the full use of the cymbal. Drummer Craig Kneale ”tsings” those things like a lunatic and it’s fantastic. Tsing- it’s a new word sound it out its totally spot on.
Now look up there to the bullets again .. We have some piano going on and some cello! Remember I love classical strings and if you can tuck some into a rocker style guitar heavy song then I’m going to love you even more. Twin Atlantic does this beautifully in “Better Weather”. Moody and melancholy opening is like sliding into a bowl of pudding. The cymbals and drums usher you out of that state to sit up a bit straighter as the song opens up to a more intricate melodic ballad. Again in my efforts to skip the lyrics here I will touch the fact that the voice as an instrument is breathtaking in this particular track. I’m an old reliable but without even reading a lyric sheet I get that emotional chest tighten feeling of being overwhelmed.
“Audience and Audio” and “Human After All” are songs with faster pace and again the calliope of guitars running fast and furious in the back ground. Fingers are bleeding here, fast fret work and the consistent performance of bassist McNae compliment each other one stabilizing the other.
“You’re Turning In To John Wayne” is a nod to the US, although I’m not sure if it’s a nod or a flip off. Musically (which is what were focusing on here), could be the most pop of the bunch. Still with depth but a bit more repetitive and with a swelling chorus back up that most definitely will be the live crowd shout along.
Ill end with “Old Grey Face” is a stomp of a song. Unfortunately it’s tough not to shout “THE PROCLAIMERS!” in this.. Well in the beginning but again the guitarists come together to create a strong marching tempo and that highly contagious cymbal action again.. Right there grabbing my ear.
Next time were going to cover the lyrics and vocals.
Ill keep listening. As if I could stop anyway…