Ninetails
Quiet Confidence
March 10 2014 (Pond Life)
7.5/10
Words: Dave Beech
Liverpool's Ninetails aren't a band whose sound is easy to pin down; their unusual amalgamations of ambience and art pop sees a whole host of atypical instrumentation brought to the fore, distinguishing the band from any of their contemporaries, almost immediately. Their debut release, 2012's 'Slept and Did Not Sleep', earned the band considerable critical acclaim and now it seems they look set to build on their reputation with 'Quiet Confidence', their second EP.
Rarely has an EP been so aptly named, but 'Quiet Confidence' oozes with just that. There's little ostentation at play here, just a rich and varied musicality that works, not only as a selection of tracks, but as a singular entity, constantly moving, entwining around it's own rich textures. First track 'Radiant Hex' is a delightfully understated example of this: exquisitely produced percussion compliments the vocals fantastically, whilst an ambient brass hook croons beneath. It's a brilliant introduction to the record, easing one in gently, so as to appreciate every nuance.
Further tracks, like'Quiet Confidence/Pure Utopian Morning', are perhaps less accessible; coming across as quite disconcerting at times, even ominous, though never without a theatrical sense of grandeur. It's not easy listening by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn't mean it's not without it's rewards. The rich and varied layers and textures that reveal themselves with each and every listen are second to none, with EP closer 'Sinn Djinn' in particular proving to be the most unusual and weirdly emotive pieces of music I've come across this year.
Whilst on their own, the tracks that form 'Quiet Confidence' are difficult to wrestle with (with the exception of 'Radiant Hex'). As one long, continuous expression, however, a cohesiveness emerges and every off-kilter beat, every strange vocal effect, takes on a new meaning. Each track flows expertly in to the next, like post-modernist free-form jazz, it's both progressive and emotive. While its experimental ambiguity is certainly part of the charm of 'Quiet Confidence', it won't appeal to everyone. For those looking for music harbouring a deeper, and dare I say it, more intelligent, vibe, then it's certainly worth spending a few hours of your time wrapping your heads around Ninetails
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