Loch Lomond – Night Bats
This is something of a departure from the first couple of Loch Lomond records – the sublime Lament For Children EP and full length Paper the Walls – despite the fact that nothing has changed all that much.
There’s been a shift of tone, only a slight one mind, but one which has nevertheless had a big effect on the overall impression of their sound. The best way I can describe it is to say that the slightly macabre fairytale atmosphere, which was only present in the subtlest of shades before, has pretty much gone now, and with it the slightly disturbing, dark undercurrent of their music. This is no criticism however, just an attempt to rationalise the significantly different impression I get from this record, compared to its ostensibly quite similar-sounding predecessors.
The title track bridges the gap the most for me, more so then even a re-recording of Spine, which is a relatively old (and brilliant) song. Even the name Night Bats has that old dark mystery about it, and the rather other-wordly falsetto emphasises that point with some impact.
The new version of Spine is perhaps the most telling song on the record for me. It’s been recorded at what feels like a marginally quicker tempo, but whether or not it actually is faster, it certain feels it: there’s real purpose and urgency to the new recording, and a much fuller sound which doesn’t change the song that much in a literal sense, but in overall feel makes a big difference.
The subtle shift in emphasis is just enough to take the character of their sound from dark folk to
slightly distressed pop. It is in many ways a big pop record this; here the crescendoes are generated by swells of instrumentation, whereas before it was a keening of the emotion of the delivery.
It’s really bloody good though, because despite this change, none of the emotional impact of the music has gone. It’s bigger, sure, and definitely a little bolder, but it really gives the impression that this incarnation was lurking in their music all along and they are just starting to let it out. That same combination of euphoria, sadness and introversion is intact, but there is just a bit more confidence added to the mix which gives this EP a sense of real strength and integrity – it all just clicks nicely into place.
Loch Lomond – Wax & Wire
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If the rest of the album is anything like “Wax and Wire,” which I have been listening to a lot, I want it. I want it ALLLLLLL. W&W is in my Festive 50 list.
[Psst--check your link for this file.]
L.
Whoops, thanks for the tip, fixed now.
I agree, I love Wax & Wire. I don’t know much about the new album but if this EP represents the general direction they’re moving in should be brilliant.
I’ve just finished my Festive 50 actually. Not much on there that anyone else is likely to vote for I don’t think, but I’ll submit it anyway!
Just snagged this from eMusic and am listening now. Ghost of an Earthworm = Yes. YES. YES!
Apparently they might be able to do a mini tour of Scotland in May. Also: yes. YES. YES!
I really really enjoyed that. Lots of beautiful instrumental touches, and Ritchie’s in fine voice as usual. I’m not sure I agree with you that the latent darkness has gone, though. I’m sitting here listening in a quiet house with morning rain hitting the windows, and it seems the perfect soundtrack.
Mini-tour of Scotland? Will they be bringing TB&TB along for the ride do you think? That would be brilliant, and might help a certain upstart label to sell out it’s stock of split 12″ EPs as well. Can’t wait for it to arrive by the way. This Night Bats has really put me in the mood.
Doubt they’ll be bringing the Builders somehow, and that would be a hell of a lot of bodies to get in a tour bus.
I think I posted your vinyl over a week ago, so it really should be there soon.
Stuff from Scotland almost always takes ages to get here. It’s probably because you’re on the terrorists’ side.
Tourists, C&B, tourists.
Well I’m not surprised. Bands usually ‘break’ by touring, and flying across the Atlantic is not cheap, especially as so many bands seem to have six or seven members these days.
No, I mean mail.
Voila! It has arrived.
Those vultures are fucking gear.
Thanks mate. I tried a painting first off, but I really wasn’t happy with it, so I thought I’d try a simple biro drawing instead, because I do that at work all the time and figured I’d have much more control over what I was trying to achieve. I’m really pleased with the finished article, so really glad you like it.