ArtClassSink - ILLA

Apparently, it's Saturday. We're mid-point in the weekend and thegeneral has reached a new peak of stress level known only to her as "screaming like a cockweasel" - dear readers, January has not, thus far, been a kind month.

Therefore, when my inbox pinged (not a euphemism) with an e-mail asking me to review a new EP I felt heartily glad to be firing up this page again to bring you something fresh and exciting to listen to.

Boy, have I got it for you.

I'd like to introduce you to another brilliant act from Oxford called ArtClassSink. Hoik yourselves over to their bandcamp page to have a listen to their stuff:

artclasssink.bandcamp.com/

Then come back here AT ONCE to read on.

The band's new EP (which hopefully you're now listening to) is called Illa and it's a hugely engaging listen. From the moment the first track "She (Intro)" kicks in, it instantly feels like you're onto a winner. It has an amazingly catchy start with a fantastic drum beat and bassline, matched with a slightly off kilter, discordant vocal (in fact vocalist Joe Biggs has an absolutely cracking voice - really shines through on all the tracks, at times a little McCulloch-esque, haunting and melodic).

Although the band's bandcamp page suggests they're bracketed in with one of my favourite genres (math-rock), the group tell me that they're trying not to stray too far into that territory - and they're right, although this EP does have a slight nod towards other acts who fit more neatly into that category, on the whole the sounds here are much more shoe-gazey, more much wistful, laconic and dreamy eyed than the chippy, intricate rhythms of math-rock/pop. Each track is different and compelling in it's own way.

They were lucky enough to support one of my all time favourite bands TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns, also from Oxford) not long ago - an amazing experience for them, however, it's also good to see they're carving their own niche and distinctive sound in their own right.

There is such a subtlety to the songs here, the group's chord progressions are spacily drawn, slightly distorted and fuzzy which, in places, give the music a relaxed edge. This is particularly prevalent on the wonderful "Cry For Help", which for me was the standout track of the whole collection. Final track "Someone To Try For" has an almost quietly New Order-esque bass line to it and drives along at a great pace. You feel carried along by the melody, it's a song that is tangible, real and something that you want to keep hitting 'repeat play' on.

So, if you've got the January wobbles (like me) and want something brand new and fantastic to listen to you absolutely won't go wrong with ArtClassSink. As always I finish these pieces by asking my perfectly formed readership to give them a moment of your time and a little support. So please, give them a moment of your time and a little support. Yeah.