It isn’t long before you’ll hear the name ‘St. Spirit’ floating on every airwave. I have spinning in my stereo a little EP called ‘Pigeon’ that came packaged in a very stereotypically DIY plastic sleeve and paper inserts, as most indie bands should and do present themselves. However, it’s through a raw ability to attract and hold attention that puts the London-based band on the sonic map.
The debut EP consists of four tracks, each of which simultaneously differs from and reinforces the last. The first of which, also entitled ‘Pigeon’, is an epic beast of a track, utilising cymbals, guitars, delay and reverb to their fullest. Though vocals are slightly over shadowed by this awesome blur of sound, they shout emotively over the dynamic waves and sit in such a position in the mix that is almost enigmatic, making you want to hear them more, unsure of their lyrics or even of their presence at times due to their quintessential likeness to the instruments that support them. The writing and performance of this number takes my mind back to the anthems local-to-Taunton band Tainted Orange blared out at home – I will constantly plug this band as they made my college life a lot more interesting with their EP ‘Moments’ and local gigs. What amazes me about ‘Pigeons’ is that it’s been on repeat for half an hour now, giving me enough listens to analyse it in detail, and I’m still enjoying it as much this time round as I did the first.
Beginning more delicately is a sweet serenade named ‘Sweat’ (though the name is, perhaps, not so sweet). Lyrics are sung in a strained voice that conveys every drop of pain the writer must have been feeling, pouring words like “I don’t think we can choke this down again” over the soft, falsetto ‘ooo’s that carry the harmony with the acoustic guitar.
New Skin starts as a whisper with a shower of silvery reverb on the lonely vocal, but, as it builds, you’ll realise quite how dynamic this track can be. It’s a difficult task to write a chorus with no lyrics, but, somehow, St. Spirit have done it. And quite well I might add, waking you up with a huge swell of noise. With verse lyrics that scream sex and music that illustrates it, it’s hard not to listen intently.
‘Pigeon’s closing track, Tooth & Nail, is nothing less than beautiful. Tension builds throughout it as the dainty piano riff loops, being satisfied as chord structure changes and instrumentation evolves to involve a U2-esque guitar before a distorted chorus of everything kicks in. Once again, a lack of lyrics can be surprisingly catchy as a small voice imitates the original piano riff with the exit of the keys, encouraging you to sing along with its ‘do’s and ‘da’s. This is not an EP to be missed, nor a band to be dismissed. Keep your eye out for them in 2012.
‘Pigeon’ is out February 20th on Distiller Records. St. Spirit will be playing at Amersham Arms, New Cross on February 14th.
