Sky Larkin are a band I have personally been following for a rather long time. I remember finding them on MySpace a couple of years ago. The songs that were available on their page then had an immediacy and a sense of fun which is not lost on this record. The album's opener "Fossil, I" is a jaunty, drum-led shout-along. This song would be fun to dance to in a club or live! "Pica" follows; a plea for social inclusion which is even more fun than "Fossil".
The songs are satisfyingly short (only four are over 3 minutes!) this is modern day rock-n-roll! It's definitely as fun and carefree. "Antibodies" features everything that you could want in a rock and roll song. Catchy guitars, semi-nonsense lyrics, a bold, melodic bassline and a drum groove that just keeps going. There's something about Katie Harkin's voice, I can't put my finger on it, but there's something special there. An innocence which is absent in her guitar playing.
There's no let up in any of the above in "Octopus". Melody, drums, bass, it's all there. There is so much depth and joy in their songs. They remind me of another band I like to listen to a lot: Dogs Die In Hot Cars. The sheer fun that you can sense in the recording of these songs is evident throughout. Never more than in "Somersault" a delightful ditty with a rising, euphoric chorus.
"Beeline" makes a beeline to the dance floor. It simply urges you to leap to your feet and throw some shapes. Everything about it is incessant. The album continues its relentless pace with the stand out track "One Of Two". It is the longest track on the album, clocking in at a massive 3:52, but it really doesn't notice. This album flies by! That's not to say that this is a bad thing. Time flies when you're having fun after all. Never once do you feel the urge to skip a song, or wish that something had maybe been omitted. Every note has its place and takes its place perfectly.
The country-esque feel of "Matador" serves only to make it not a dance song, but the sort of song that people do that silly marching dance to in clubs. Though perhaps this song doesn't have club potential. It represents, for me, the album's weakest link. Like a chain though, this is a strong "weak link". The album is one of the most coherent by a new band that I have heard in a long time. I like to test an album by imagining any of the tracks on it as a single in its own right. This is definitely possibly with "The Golden Spike". Every track is a winner. This band deserve everything (good) they get!
"Summit's" soaring, and deliciously Northern, chorus is infectious. It's one of those that you find yourself singing, even when you haven't heard the song for a while. The vocal harmony in the final line of the song is really something special!
The album's closer, the quaint, sweet "Keepsakes" is as splendid as the rest. I have written this while listening to the album, and now I want to go back and listen to it again, while I edit it, before posting. I really like this album!
Overall, one word dominates all my thoughts about this album: FUN. This band just seem like so much fun. I can't wait for the opportunity to see them live!
Track Listing:
Fossil, I - 2:20
Pica - 1:29
Molten - 2:49
Antibodies - 3:31
Octopus '08 - 2:50
Somersault - 2:59
Beeline - 2:36
One of Two - 3:52
Matador - 3:51
Geography - 3:02
Summit - 3:32
Keepsakes - 2:22
The songs are satisfyingly short (only four are over 3 minutes!) this is modern day rock-n-roll! It's definitely as fun and carefree. "Antibodies" features everything that you could want in a rock and roll song. Catchy guitars, semi-nonsense lyrics, a bold, melodic bassline and a drum groove that just keeps going. There's something about Katie Harkin's voice, I can't put my finger on it, but there's something special there. An innocence which is absent in her guitar playing.
There's no let up in any of the above in "Octopus". Melody, drums, bass, it's all there. There is so much depth and joy in their songs. They remind me of another band I like to listen to a lot: Dogs Die In Hot Cars. The sheer fun that you can sense in the recording of these songs is evident throughout. Never more than in "Somersault" a delightful ditty with a rising, euphoric chorus.
"Beeline" makes a beeline to the dance floor. It simply urges you to leap to your feet and throw some shapes. Everything about it is incessant. The album continues its relentless pace with the stand out track "One Of Two". It is the longest track on the album, clocking in at a massive 3:52, but it really doesn't notice. This album flies by! That's not to say that this is a bad thing. Time flies when you're having fun after all. Never once do you feel the urge to skip a song, or wish that something had maybe been omitted. Every note has its place and takes its place perfectly.
The country-esque feel of "Matador" serves only to make it not a dance song, but the sort of song that people do that silly marching dance to in clubs. Though perhaps this song doesn't have club potential. It represents, for me, the album's weakest link. Like a chain though, this is a strong "weak link". The album is one of the most coherent by a new band that I have heard in a long time. I like to test an album by imagining any of the tracks on it as a single in its own right. This is definitely possibly with "The Golden Spike". Every track is a winner. This band deserve everything (good) they get!
"Summit's" soaring, and deliciously Northern, chorus is infectious. It's one of those that you find yourself singing, even when you haven't heard the song for a while. The vocal harmony in the final line of the song is really something special!
The album's closer, the quaint, sweet "Keepsakes" is as splendid as the rest. I have written this while listening to the album, and now I want to go back and listen to it again, while I edit it, before posting. I really like this album!
Overall, one word dominates all my thoughts about this album: FUN. This band just seem like so much fun. I can't wait for the opportunity to see them live!
Track Listing:
Fossil, I - 2:20
Pica - 1:29
Molten - 2:49
Antibodies - 3:31
Octopus '08 - 2:50
Somersault - 2:59
Beeline - 2:36
One of Two - 3:52
Matador - 3:51
Geography - 3:02
Summit - 3:32
Keepsakes - 2:22
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