Another addition to the ever growing Big Scary Monsters roster of indie talent, Tall Ships from Falmouth have released a limited run screen printed debut EP that sold out before they knew it on pre-orders alone. I’m usually a fan of the BSM catalogue, so it’s always nice to hear something new.
‘Books’ opens up the album with a mix of big synth lines that anyone could sing along to, to a softer verse, as Ric Phethean’s vocals wash over you, with some great rhyming in there as well. ‘time is precious / time will forget us’.
‘Words Are Pegs Upon Which We Hang Ideas’ is a lot more within the realms of afrobeat foals-esque indie, and has a great tempo and upbeat feel, and there is even some old samples over the top. Really picking up towards the end, I think this is one for the dance floor at times.
‘Beanieandodger’ is another number with real pace behind it, with the offbeat hi hats driving things along nicely in the chorus, whilst the guitar bangs out consistently nice and simple riffs.
‘Vessels’ ends the EP, and is a track that really grows throughout. What sounds like 3 part harmony sounds great against the almost hymn-like guitar and organ part. Maybe this is modern church music, who knows? When the drums kick in though, this is a truly epic number, and builds and builds, with some great bits in between. Quite a unique little number.
This is a good debut EP by these guys, and it’s always good to have a bit of variety in a first release, which this has. ‘Books’ is one of my least favourites personally, as I think they do the upbeat stuff better. They’ve also just been on tour with Tubelord, so I’m sure they’re building up quite a number of fans by now.
Tags: band, books, ep, Falmouth, indie, pop, review, Tall Ships, tubelord
