#diyethos

[stirlingdiypress]

Review: ‘It Hurts So Much When You Smile At Me’ - Youth Group

Previously a somewhat collaborative effort, Luc Grindle is going it alone on his latest offering as Youth Group. As well as playing every instrument, Luc engineered and produced the EP himself. The result is a grand step-up in production quality which allows these cracking songs to shine.  

Things kick off with ‘Couldn’t Look You In The Eyes’. Of all the tracks it feels closest to his earlier works, moving along head-to-the-pedals with an energy which nods to Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. There’s an urgency in the lyrics which allude to tangled emotions, the change mid-way through slows things down and brings a hint of hope, harmonics and all, taking us out instrumentally to the beautiful close and into follow up track ‘D0 U L0V3 ME’. Here, lead guitar lines meander over a wall of undulating rhythm guitar with processed vocals sitting deep in the mix evoking the spirit of Kevin Shields’ My Bloody Valentine.

It’s the second half of the EP though that really gets exciting. The found-sounds and tape clicks adding tension to the hypnotic drums as ‘Shift (I Wanted Kids But I’m Too Selfish)’ drives forward like a multi-layered Kosmische patchwork. The effect is wonderful simplicity; hushed vocals reverberating over processed guitar that suggests distant steel drums, the track slowly building to echos of “It’s just a way that I feel…” and eventually dropping out to ghostly field recordings suggesting an uneasy world. This is excellent.  

After a brief palate cleanser of unsettling noise in ‘Porcupine’, the EP is brought to a close with the glorious ‘It Hurts So Much When You Smile At Me’. It’s Youth Group in full brooding widescreen. The track is loaded with ear-swivelling beauty but feels full of space rather than cluttered. Moments of transcendence abound as the track strolls towards crescendo, falling out to silence at the all-too-soon close.

This is a collection of songs that develop with each listen. In striding out alone, Luc has taken a creative leap forward and produced his best work yet.

Buy the EP on Bandcamp

Words: McAll  goldenhum.co.uk

[stirlingdiypress]

weirdtime #5 - 01.03.18

Our next secret show is set for Thu 1st March from 8pm.

Onto our 5th in the ‘weirdtime’ series, each show takes place in a secret location with a secret lineup, open to all via email sign up.

Always an unusual space in Stirling and always with a mix of swell local acts and those from further afield. 

To book your place and attend the gig, email asking to be added to the list (+1s also allowed): [email protected] 

We’ll get back to you the night before with the location of the gig, and you’ll find out the line-up once they start playing in front of you!

More info via the event page.

[samiholloway]

Made a mess but I managed to refill my printer ink myself! For a fifth of what it would cost to get new cartriges! Whoo! #diy4lyfe #diyethos