August 21st, 2008
This Hand Has Three Fingers: Novillero, Spindrift, Tim Williams
Novillero - A Little Tradition
Hey, guess what? I’m going to get my haircut tonight! And while this is the kind of drastically relevant information one should display more on Twitter than on a band’s write-up, I mention this because my haircut is going to be quite similar to the mod-tops of Novillero. They themselves will probably be hitting the barber’s shop soon enough with the impending release of their third LP, A Little Tradition, of which the title track is a soulful, bouncy affair of pure pop goodness. It’s got a great britpop vibe, shifty and infectious to the core, infused with sunray horns and spot-on vocals.
Spindrift - The New West
If the old west belonged to cowboys, prospectors, and 49ers, Spindrift is of the opinion that The New West is a phantomlike remnant of what it used to be, now claimed by the dissafected, the lost, and the drifters. Combining effected-out steel pedal guitars echoing the anthemic strains of western mystery with the gypsy hum of achingly menacing accordions, this pysched-out refrain will set you in the centre of a vast peyote-drenched land, the howls of singer Kirpatrick Thomas echoing hauntingly through the thick starry night.
Tim Williams - Tape Your Head
If things are looking up for Tim Williams, it’s not by complete fluke or chance occurrence. Here, it’s obvious that the man has a knack for coming up with excellent pop songs, of which Tape Your Head is of no exception. It’s a thorough and atmospheric song, richly arranged with layer upon layer of textures to give it an immense, stately demeanour. The execution is without fail and Williams’ heart is in the right place, keeping the song from just being a bland pizza with everything on top.