What are we talking about?!
Too Many Poets latest project, a 6 track EP: ‘Tough On The Tightrope’ released via Elevant Music.
Summary
This EP landed in my inbox a couple of weeks ago and since then it’s been in constant rotation, all 6 of the Oxford ‘graveyard grungers’ songs charming their way into my subconscious with their beautiful balance of ghoulish modulated guitars lines, subtly infectious rhythms and a wide range of vividly illustrative and forlorn vocal performances from front to back; each instrument delivering its parts mournfully as though it has a lump in it’s throat. What has since unfortunately been revealed to be the bands final release, ‘Tough On The Tightrope’ is a distinctly unique collection of fuzz tainted gothic brilliance scattered with marvellous dark wordsmanship. Must listen for anybody with the slightest interest in post punk / grunge / goth.
What hooked me?
The goth meets 90’s grunge vibe caught my attention immediately and kept a tight hold of it - I was not disappointed with my mental investment as each track delivered on the eerie promise of the opening (and also title) track.
Key Track / Lyric
‘Tough On The Tightrope’ stood out as my personal favourite track, it’s mopey vocal opening is a soothing contrast to the frantic, shrill and at times discordant body of the song which clocks in at just 2 minutes and 48 seconds but set’s the tone perfectly for the tracks ahead. The lyrical content on offer throughout this EP is fantastic so narrowing it down to one line seems a little unfair but the one that keeps jumping into my mind comes from ‘Straight From Her Eyes’ where Pog delivers the line ‘When I die you will be by my side with a knife in my back’ with a sombre conviction accompanied by a subtle backing vocal mimicking him. Feedback The ‘heavier’ segments don’t come across as powerfully as they could do with a higher level of production, which I suppose is the other side of the charming blade of the double edged sword that is DIY production.
Artwork
The cover is the sketched facial features of a pink lipped, dreary eyed person leaking a black ink-like substance from the mouth into what looks to be a reservoir of the aforementioned substance that occupies the bottom segment of the cover. Lyrically this EP is particularly dark, and is one of the stronger elements so in that respect the visual artwork ties in nicely with the audio.
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Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, the front man of incoming Chemic/Grunge/Fuzz/Alt Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, still a ginger in denial who still occasionally (albeit slightly less often) wrestles dudes in spandex. Still a full time miserable twat. Currently hungry but too lazy to cook.
Too Many Poets latest project, a 6 track EP: ‘Tough On The Tightrope’ released via Elevant Music.
Summary
This EP landed in my inbox a couple of weeks ago and since then it’s been in constant rotation, all 6 of the Oxford ‘graveyard grungers’ songs charming their way into my subconscious with their beautiful balance of ghoulish modulated guitars lines, subtly infectious rhythms and a wide range of vividly illustrative and forlorn vocal performances from front to back; each instrument delivering its parts mournfully as though it has a lump in it’s throat. What has since unfortunately been revealed to be the bands final release, ‘Tough On The Tightrope’ is a distinctly unique collection of fuzz tainted gothic brilliance scattered with marvellous dark wordsmanship. Must listen for anybody with the slightest interest in post punk / grunge / goth.
What hooked me?
The goth meets 90’s grunge vibe caught my attention immediately and kept a tight hold of it - I was not disappointed with my mental investment as each track delivered on the eerie promise of the opening (and also title) track.
Key Track / Lyric
‘Tough On The Tightrope’ stood out as my personal favourite track, it’s mopey vocal opening is a soothing contrast to the frantic, shrill and at times discordant body of the song which clocks in at just 2 minutes and 48 seconds but set’s the tone perfectly for the tracks ahead. The lyrical content on offer throughout this EP is fantastic so narrowing it down to one line seems a little unfair but the one that keeps jumping into my mind comes from ‘Straight From Her Eyes’ where Pog delivers the line ‘When I die you will be by my side with a knife in my back’ with a sombre conviction accompanied by a subtle backing vocal mimicking him. Feedback The ‘heavier’ segments don’t come across as powerfully as they could do with a higher level of production, which I suppose is the other side of the charming blade of the double edged sword that is DIY production.
Artwork
The cover is the sketched facial features of a pink lipped, dreary eyed person leaking a black ink-like substance from the mouth into what looks to be a reservoir of the aforementioned substance that occupies the bottom segment of the cover. Lyrically this EP is particularly dark, and is one of the stronger elements so in that respect the visual artwork ties in nicely with the audio.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, the front man of incoming Chemic/Grunge/Fuzz/Alt Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, still a ginger in denial who still occasionally (albeit slightly less often) wrestles dudes in spandex. Still a full time miserable twat. Currently hungry but too lazy to cook.