Highlights: Grangemouth At The Dawn, Chatelherault
7/10
There’s always been something about Scotland
(primarily Glasgow) and melody that just clicks. Something Rotten, a new split EP from Scottish indie underground,
is case in point. What we have here is a collaboration between
singer-songwriter Callum Baird and a band called GUMS! (whose previous EP, Antipathy, was brilliant; read the
review here).
The two parts blend together quite well, though I
generally prefer GUMS! They have it
where Callum Baird has a nice tune. So whereas “Me Plus You” is decent indie
with no balls, “Bonfire” has that nervy quality that gives its melodies a
stronger edge. The title track sounds like a centrepiece, emotional and anthemic.
However, lovely piano and backing vocals notwithstanding, this smacks too much
of about a million Glaswegian pubs where I could have heard something similar. Has
style but lacks class. “Grangemouth At The Dawn” is again GUMS! at their tuneful
best. Callum’s catchy and lilting “Haunted House” is his strongest offering.
Finally, “Chatelherault” is darker GUMS! The sort of song that knows it’s good
and exploits that confidence to the full.
That’s a 6 for Callum Baird and an 8 for GUMS! 7 overall. Good
songwriting all the way through, with songs chockfull of well-written,
instantly memorable melodies. This is where the promise and potential should
give way to popularity and full-length albums. In an ideal world.
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