Singles for the week starting 4 June!

Craft Spells

Gallery EP
(Captured Tracks)
* *

Largely the solo project of Californian Justin Ballesteros, Craft Spells have been floating around the shores of the blogosphere for some time now. Looking to build on the amiably received ‘Idle Labor’, ‘Gallery’ features a tone of downcast sorrow, swelling to synthesised pop beats and cyclic drum loops.
Conceived as the soundtrack to a sunset, the Balearic dance style brings to life the morose delivery of Ballesteros. The songs fail to make a lasting impact however, and only ‘Warmth’ and ‘Burst’ provide any semblance of real satisfaction.
Joe Woolmer




The Son(s)
Leviathan
(Olive Grove Records)
* * *

As someone who has spent many a winter in cold Edinburgh flats, where The Son(s) EP ‘Leviathan’ was recorded, it is immediately apparent that the temporal chill successfully made its way into the writing process. Stripped back with echoey guitar and breathy harmonies, the record offers a laid back trip reviving folktronica stylings, and is not too dissimilar to the likes of The Beta Band. Gently weaving a sense of warmth with rich layers of sweet vocals and intricate acoustic plucking, The Son(s) are a worthy accompaniment to any Scottish fireside or glorious summer’s day alike.
Rachel Williams

Fossil Collective

Let It Go EP

(Dirty Hit)

* * * * *

With their inaugural release Fossil Collective have composed a tranquil, embracing sound wherein lies a rustic timbre that conjures images of log cabins in densely packed American woodland, a lifetime away from the Northern city Johnny Hooker and David Fendick, the two permanent members of the collective, call home.
The five song collection tells morose tales of relationships that are given a warm glow by the hairs-on-end harmonies of the Leeds pairing and an array of instruments that furnish the songs with a vast breadth of sound.
Joe Woolmer

Jairus
Streams Over Sad Parades
(Holy Ghost Records)
* * * *

On first listen to the Folkestone based 6 piece Jairus, it’s easy to dismiss them as just another screamo band. Sure, there is screaming, but it’s mixed with dark, brooding vocals and while the driving guitars and commanding drums are unapologetically heavy, the underlying melodies are strong and occasionally beautiful. Of the four tracks on ‘Streams Of Sad Parades’ the only weak link is ‘Outro’, but that is more than made up for by the others, especially the gorgeous melodies of the ‘Dry Yourself Off Richard Millhouse’. It’s been 3 years since their last release, let’s hope the next one doesn’t take so long.
Mark Cousens