Engineers
"We want to turn the lights down, get stoned and then blow our heads off."
Morbid? Maybe but in the current UK musical environment of Libertinesesque manifesto's and NME hype bands, Engineers's guitarist Dan McBean's summation of his band's intentions is as striking as their debut self-titled album is remarkable.
London 's Engineers fuse dramatic sound-scapes and haunting lyrics into a release that bursts with ambition and, unlike so many recent UK releases, actually realizes those intentions. While Spiritualised and Slowdive's influences bubble away beneath the surface, Engineers hint at the melodrama of My Bloody Valentine with a certain touch of Kevin Shields' move into cinema scores. Standout track "New Horizons" is side of stage at a Flaming Lips show in a rabbit suit, peculiar and eerie, evoking a neo-futurism with its twin streams of traffic and layered vocals.
The whole album sways with an assured eloquence. Simon Phipps sings like he's letting you in on a secret while the band create intricate and absorbing melodies that weave their way into your subconscious. It's shoe gaze with a twist of Badalamenti and Tangerine Dream, straddling the world of pop and cinema with a quiet confidence that stands out amongst the bravado and posturing of the current London crop.
Release: Album
To Cure: A predictable playlist
Keywords: Bands, Psych, Experimental, Britain
Random Entries:
Search our guide to Melbourne
Browse our guide to Melbourne by interest
Browse our guide to Melbourne by keyword
Melbourne Events Calendar
Select a date to see what's on in Melbourne
Browse our guide to Melbourne by weekly issue
Working