EP Review :: Talk In Colour - Rushes

Talk In Colour

Rushes

Night Cabin Records (July 8)

8/10


Words: Dave Beech


London-based quintet Talk In Colour are a band who take their eclectic tendencies seriously, and as a result, their overall sound isn't easy to pigeon-hole, should you choose to try. Their influences stem from the likes of artists such as The xx and Battles right down to whole genres that share the band's sense of eclecticism, like afrobeat and folktronica, correspondingly, the forthcoming EP, 'Rushes' is a brooding affair in which lyricism and instrumentation are held in equal regard.

First track 'Rolling' does just that, gently easing one in to a record that quickly asserts itself as something really quite special. An optimistic undercurrent runs throughout 'Rolling' and indeed 'Rushes' as a whole, though never quite escapes the brooding ruminations so effortlessly juxtaposed against an uplifting veneer. It's this dichotomy of dark and light that makes the record what it is; a fifteen minute auditory journey that takes in dizzying summits and claustrophobic depths on it's way to it's conclusion.

The use of both electronic and 'organic' instruments has allowed the band to hone and polish an aesthetic that works incredibly in their favour, particularly when it comes to the use of cello and harp, instruments rarely utilised within music of such a contemporary nature. This is perhaps exhibited best in second track 'Candles', in which the aforementioned harp is expertly plucked throughout the intro before almost tribal drums kick in, alluding to the band's afrobeat influences.

The conclusion of 'Rushes' comes in the form of 'The Cell,' a gentle track in which singer Mary Erskine is at her understated best while backing singer/producer Chris Bangs provides a layer of texture behind the silky smooth musings of Erskine. This male/female dichotomy will appeal to fans of The xx unquestionably, as the entire track is somewhat reminiscent of their track 'Crystallised' though never falls in to the realms of carbon-copy.

It's easy for a band such as Talk in Colour to find themselves somewhat overlooked and left floundering in a sea of guitar-based boy-bands with exaggerated colloquial accents. Their music is subtle and understated, as opposed to arrogant and forthright. It's romanti,c as opposed to gritty, yet it still exudes a darkness perfectly in fitting with the rest of the music though never quite as overbearing as to completely digest the subtler elements; in a scene saturated with folk bands and indie boys, Talk In Colour are breathing new life in to a stagnant pool and we should all be grateful for it.