Nettles are an Edinburgh foursome who are in the act of releasing their debut EP, Meeting With A Vampire. Their blurb on Facebook says they were united by beef and astrophysics (quick query: is astrophysics known as cosmophysics in Russia?) but that stuff is just padding to make them stand out from the crowd. Who the hell doesn’t like roast beef?
Regardless, the EP is smooth like manuka honey. It’s heavily reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys, not least because there’s a track on their first album called “Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But…” that’s one of my favourites from that record. The twanging refrain of Meeting With A Vampire is catchy and sharp; fast-flowing smart lyrics wrap tightly around the lightening bolt riffs.
Love Is Deaf has a life all its own, utilising a great synth melody in a way I haven’t heard used very well before (maybe early, early Franz Ferdinand could stand a comparison). Also, they remind me quite a bit of Homework, having listened to their mini album a hell of a lot recently.
The EP, I have learnt, was recorded at Castlesound Studios where REM and Mark Knopfler have also recorded so there’s a factoid for all you trivia junkies (a big leap from trivial junkies).
Anyway, they’re nominated for the Forth One To Watch thing, which is having a final-five gig at Liquid Rooms at the end of October.
haha cheers guys, foursome lol