Mention the words North Lancastrian coastline and sweet romantic post punk pop music in the same sentence, and it will almost certainly draw a blank. However, 'The Art Club', who are a mixed gender quartet hailing from the seaside town of Morecambe, are aiming to change many a pre-conceived musical perception about this coastal region.
To say there has been a buzz about this band is a serious slight understatement. From Barnsley to Brighton, which incidentally is the city that the band are currently based in, there has definitely been waves of interest and mass nods of approval for the exceedingly vibrant and lavishly soaked cocktail of sound created by this Lancastrian four piece.
With sonics that have just jumped on the first express train from the 80's, 'The Art Club' have an incandescent ability of breathing rose tinted nostalgia of the romantic post punk era into our ears . . . minus the androgynous choice of clothing and mandatory eye liner of course. Despite this overriding influence, 'The Art Club' appear to add a slab of 'New Order' sounding magnificence to a healthy portion of 'The Drums', which is then blended up with the vibes of 'The National', just to act as the perfect musical tonic.
So, what better place to start than with "If You Still Loved Me", which certainly does encompass a whole heap of these traits, with some sultry soothing vocals and a thunderous bassline that teeters on a tight rope. Colourful, uplifting and most definitely mesmerising, "If You Still Loved Me" has an infallible appeal that stretches well beyond its three minutes and forty eight seconds playback time. Another track labelled "Baptism", highlights the band's darker and more experimental approach to their craft, as fluorescent melancholy and rattling riffs thrust the song under the same musical umbrella as 'Joy Division'.
'The Art Club - Baptism'
The debut single by 'The Art Club', "Lets Start Again" is a simplistic sounding affair, as Harry Gorst provides a beautiful blanket of noise through his drumming, which navigates the loved up subject matter into a breezy summers day on America's Eastern Seaboard. A splattering of synths melt straight into the bones of the track, whilst the cautious bassline swirls above the the melody, tentatively dipping its toes in and out every so often, leading to the creation of a joyous riot that's brimming with romance and relaxation.
'The Art Club - Let's Start Again'
The songwriting muscle of 'The Art Club' is a strong and productive one at that, with each song springing with hooks and melodies that stay burrowed deep inside your mind for a least a day or five. After graduating from 'The Jesus, Mary Chain' school of songwriting, it appears that 'The Art Club' have put into practice everything they've learnt, but with a captivating, ultra modern and hugely refreshing sleekness to it . . . of which the residents of Morecambe and its surrounding areas should really be starting to take notice of.
BF x
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