Ragged Claws – The Sleepwalker
Just how I like an EP: very small scale, very home-made and very good. I call it an EP, but actually it’s one of these increasingly common and very welcome mini-albums – six songs long – so to call it an EP is to underestimate it slightly. It’s been sequenced like an album, as well, with a nice, rewarding emotional trajectory and the feeling that everything is in it’s right place.
If I were to try and call up a comparison, I would probably lean towards what Pale Young Gentlemen might soound like if they had gone in a slightly tweer, sadder direction than the more rich, orchestral one they chose. Basic layers of guitar and vocal duets are supplemented by gentle waves of cello and plucked strings, which bring a lush indulgence to a sound already beautifully steeped in sadness.
It’s not quite the finished article yet, or at least it doesn’t quite feel like it, but don’t ask me why. It’s just an impression I have for no good reason, but if they can build on this very promising start indeed then I think it’s entirely possibly that Ragged Claws could become a very good band.
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Love that cover.
I know what you mean about the unfinished sound; the recording levels do seem a bit hit and miss. It sounds like it was all recorded in one take on one mic set up in the middle of someone’s living room. (Which could well have been the case!)
That’s a bit of a shame because it’s a lovely song, and I’d like to hear a more balanced recording. I don’t mean any sort of FM-friendly MOR over-produced pish, but I do think it would be possible to bring a touch more balance and substance to the sound, while crucially retaining that hand-made, artisan finish.
Needs more Rocktagon.
Kidding!
Arse – forgot to mention that the album is available for free, so you can all help yourselves.
(C&B, everything needs more Rocktagon.)
Actually, does ‘Needs more Rocktagon’ qualify as a t-shirt?
(Three-post mentalism!)
I’ve just downloaded and listened to the ep, I think it really is brilliant, I don’t mind that recorded around one mic feel, I find it quite suits the gentle ghostly music.
I recon Rocktagon would go really well with some slap bass.
(did I take it too far?)
I don’t dislike the recording at all, actually, it’s more something in the quality of the songwriting. It just very much has the feel of a debut EP, that’s all. Again, I’m not sure why, but seeing as it is a debut EP, we can’t blame them for that, can we.
Rocktagon is funny, dav, but slap bass is just plain vulgar. Stoppit.
Now come on, Mark King was a collossus amongst bassists.
Just think how annoying the intro to Lessons In Love would be without that cheerful bobbly-bubbly bassline.
I really hate level42, a pal of mine at school learnt running in the family on the bass, played it nonstop, does that qualify abuse?
You might hate Level 42, but I bet you’ve got the intro from Lessons In Love stuck in your head now..
Sorry about that.
..And anyway, the bassline off Running In The Family is shit compared to Lessons In Love.
There’s this week’s T-Shirt quote right there!
Sorry, Dav, yes – that is a terrifying form of mental torture. I’m right there with you, brother.
(Triple post mentalism, too!)
Fucksake. It’s the crazies thread. Poor old Ragged Claws.
That’s what they get for not having enough bubbly-bobbly basslines!