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 Released
back in April, ‘The Hungry Saw’, Tinderstick’s first album in four
years, only arrived at LINC HQ some months later and, strangely given
the group’s usual moody musical offerings, became the perfect soundtrack
to our summer.
When the words ‘summer’ and ‘music’ are combined in the same sentence,
the scene in most people’s minds is probably pretty similar; a radiant
sun striking out over breathtaking blue skies and scores of shiny, happy
people bouncing along to feel-good, up-tempo pop.
Here in Blighty, we’re experiencing a very different kind of summer.
Peering out of the window, we’re greeted by sombre skies and a tepid
drizzle of rain dripping onto fed-up passers by. And if this is what
summers are going to be like from now on, it stands to reason that we
need a new kind of summer music.
Which is where Tindersticks come in with their new album, ‘The Hungry
Saw’, a collection of desperately downbeat tracks savaged by a sense of
woe and stitched back together with a heavy sense of romanticism.
That doesn’t mean this is a miserable, lifeless disc who’s only purpose
is to send you spiralling into the depths of depression. Instead ‘The
Hungry Saw’ is a quiet collection of gentle, achingly beautiful songs
perfect for late night reflection and that struggle to dig deep into the
soul for new hope.
Getting things going with a haunting piano intro which sets the tone of
this chillingly dark disc, the album really starts with stand out track
‘Yesterday’s Tomorrow’, a soulful track that sees short shards of guitar
stab at a tender bassline as frontman Stuart Staples’ brooding baritone
slope alongside.
From there, ‘The Hungry Saw’ travels to new levels of heart-wrenching
sorrow, aching emotion and melancholy crooning in search of hope and
love, all guided by luscious, soft strings and a delicate sense of
grief.
Along the way, a glimmer of sunshine forms in the shape of songs such as
title track, ‘The Hungry Saw’. The deep vocals are still in place here,
but like the first speck of light after a heavy shower, brightness
begins to show itself in hopeful guitars and soothing rhythms.
But before long, we’re back on a rueful road of ravishing romanticism,
heading towards the fantastic closing notes of ‘The Turns We Took’, a
lush lullaby full of morose sweetness which sees Tindersticks at their
most reflective and striking.
It’s a fitting end to a stunning album, and if it carries on lashing
down outside, probably the perfect album to sum up the summer.
Recommended links:
►
www.tindersticks.co.uk
►
www.myspace.com/tindersticks
►
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