Blaenavon have become renowned as the band who doesn't release music. Almost eighteen months since their last release, the KOSO EP, they say things are about to change.
With a handful of festivals on the horizon, a debut album nearing completion and school left to one side, the trio are finally making use of their musical abilities. Tonight at The Leadmill in Sheffield they support Dry The River on an intimate UK tour but unlike some support acts, they leave the crowd wanting more of them rather than the headline band.
Live they are one of the tightest units around and fit snuggingly amongst the likes ofDry The River themselves and The Maccabees. 'Denim Patches' brews slowly, with Ben Gregory's vocals wavering like latter's frontman, Orlando Weeks. Other crowd favourite, 'Into The Night' shifts through picky riffs and drummer Harris McMillan turns tribal on the drums.
The crowd are treated to a taste of new tracks to come with thicker bass lines and strings that ring more like synths in what sounds like older influences from The Cure. 'Swans' is the highlight though, and despite it being first played before the band had even accomplished puberty, it's lullaby opening is a throwback to The Maccabees 'Toothpaste Kisses'. It's a wailing love song and far too mature for their youthful souls but a sure sign that their album to come could be a dark horse to say the least.
I had the chance to talk to the band just moments before they went on stage and they revealed more information about the album, their thoughts on the Brits and misleading song names.
Listen below:
By Josh Shreeve (@JJShreeve)
