When music is dark and sinister, it projects such rawness and the ability to take the listener somewhere else. The mundane drawls of repetitive songs on the radio (it doesn’t matter which station) don’t do this. You have to search deep for something else, or be fortunate enough for them to approach you. The latter is the reasoning behind this.
When I wrote about TGWSC the first time, what got me was their hypnotic sounds. They had a futuristic glow to their music. By this I mean I was hopeful that the future of music was going to head this way. Maybe it will happen; I live in hope. They have a new song out, and it isn’t like previous tracks such as Kappa Kappa (I love this song for the Dennis Bergkamp photo that appears on the Soundcloud link.) Although it is nothing like previous songs, it still has that raw vibe surrounding it. Possibly more than their other songs.
Ankara is chilling and haunting. It is brilliantly terrifying. It has a thriller film atmosphere to it; it’d be perfect in some creepy film where something happens to throw the viewer off completely. There’s a shock element to this track also, but that’s just coming from someone who’s been a fan of the band for some time. For anyone else listening to TGWSC, if Ankara was the first song they ever heard by them- I do hope they are reminded of The Jesus And Mary Chain when Bobby Gillespie was causing a riot on the drums. Ankara is an intense build-up of greatness but the ability to scare. These are the things I truly love about music.
TGWSC evidently don’t make music to please the majority; they make music to please those who truly get it. And if you do get it; you’re one of the lucky ones. To miss out on a band full of such promise and like I said earlier, such a raw feel to their music, would be a shame. It doesn’t matter if they may never be on the main play list of certain radio stations. All that matters is that they keep making music that delves into the ugly depths of our souls and pulls something out.
Let TGWSC frighten you. Let them take you into a world where you can roam free, but a hint of darkness will be hovering over. It will hover over you, but it will not rule you. That’s how most things should be dealt with. I guess we learn that when it is too late. BUT! It isn’t too late to listen to Ankara. If eerie synths and haunting vocals make your heart beat faster; then TGWSC are made for you.
Any band that use Arsenal’s finest, Dennis Bergkamp on their Soundcloud page are heroes in my mind. He was clearly one of the best football players in English football during the 90s, along with Colin Hendry (Blackburn Rovers finest, always.) Anyway, my love for football when I was very young was borderline obsessive. Something else took over; for the best I reckon.
The Graftham Water Sailing Club are back with an eerie song that is obviously brilliant, because if it was toss; I wouldn’t write about it. Truly one of the best bands that are in the West Midlands for sure. Kappa Kappa is like their other tracks- haunting and powerful. That’s their thing. Hypnotic and utterly creepy vocals. Think of The Cure circa Seventeen Seconds. I compare most things in life to two records. That one and Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain. If a band or song makes me feel like either/both those records do, then I know I have found something to blissfully and carelessly love.
Also, the enthralling bass-line is captive much like Krimson by Warpaint or say, Lost A Girl by New Young Pony Club. Mix this with the chant like drums, and you have something remarkable.
Kappa Kappa is one of those songs that will take you over in a sinister way; but don’t let that put you off. Some of the best songs ever written have this feel to it, so don’t hide from it. With Christmas approaching (I know, it is shit) ignore those songs with bells jingling and go for the songs that are going to be a menace to your ears, steadily luring you into the unknown.
So go forth and be lured. Devour yourself in something so eerie and divine : https://soundcloud.com/xtxgxwxsxcx/kappa-kappa
“No one deserves what I put you through, there’ll never be another you.”
Music should scare you. Music should make you feel like something is being pulled out of you. Like a gentle exorcism. I don’t even know if that is a thing. I’ve just made it a thing. You know what else is a thing? I have a disgustingly high phone bill that I have to pay. If I could fake my own death to not pay it, please believe I would do it. I’ve put it off long enough. Anyway, back to what truly matters- music.
Coventry! So much to answer for. The midlands are currently out-doing London in terms of exciting new bands. From Swim Deep to Peace. Yet there’s one band that you may (or may not have) heard of just yet. If the music industry had anything about them, the band I’m going to tell you about would be hailed as the best thing to come out of Coventry since The Specials. However it doesn’t work like that. With a lot of music journalists being pretentious and quick to slag off bands, it makes me realise why no one will ever listen to me and what I have to say. I’m far too nice. But, it’s my general nature. Sure I listen to bands that make dark and creepy music- but that doesn’t mean I have a miserable disposition and hate everything. Most things I dislike aren’t to do with music. Therefore, I’m not going to sit here and slag someone off. What’s the point? Although I am one, I have a severe dislike for music journalists. Or maybe as I head towards hitting 26, I am now going to start hating EVERYTHING. I can’t wait to be 60 years old typing even more nonsense and complaining about my false teeth. That’ll be good for everyone.
The Grafham Water Sailing Club make music that will scare you a bit. They make you feel like someone is coming to get you. You know the scene. Silly person thinks it is totally safe to walk through the woods at midnight then BOOM! A creepy person appears and proceeds to chase them. It’s that feeling the first few records by The Cure give you. There is something sinister about the music, and the vocals. But if you listen extremely closely you’ll find yourself being transported into some insane world where nothing and no one can touch you. I suppose lazy people will say they sound like Joy Division just because it is an easy thing to do. I’m not one for making life easy on myself (or others it seems) so I refuse to go with that. I refuse to compare them to anyone as it isn’t fair. If you want a band that sound like Joy Division, go listen to Joy Division. If you want a new band that sound better than most bands around, then listen to The Grafham Water Sailing Club. Simple as really.
You’ve probably got nothing to do, so hopefully(if you know what’s good for you) you will click on that link and fall in love. If someone asked me what new band I really love right now, I would honestly have to say these lads. They have something about them that makes me remember why I just love music more than anything else. They’re a band you play when you just need something to help you zone out. I know most turn to drugs or whatever to get that kind of feeling- I just use music. It’s cheaper and excess use of it won’t kill me. Nor will I end up looking like Keith Richards. HUGS NOT DRUGS, KIDS. Whatever..do what you want.
You know how Primary Colours by The Horrors blew your mind because it sounded so different to everything else around? And you probably found yourself thinking, “Why aren’t there new bands coming out with their own sound like this? Why aren’t more bands experimenting and going beyond?” If I had the answers..but I don’t. Instead all I can give you are new bands that are truly brilliant. If I didn’t know that TGWSC were from Coventry, I’d probably think they were from the depths of Berlin and probably make their music at 3am in some desolate warehouse. Maybe they do that, but in Coventry. Who knows.
Pericolo is my favourite track by them that I’ve heard. There is lucid feel to it. You feel like you are falling fast into a trance when you listen to them. I want music to make me feel like I have no control over my mind and limbs. Although for the most part, I am pretty clumsy. Being short and having awkward limbs is the bane of my life. I hate having to say what songs I prefer because I truly love what I have heard so far.
If you love music that makes you feel like you are on some weird trip. Music that sounds so ethereal and just catapults you into a state you never want to come down from- then The Grafham Water Sailing Club are for you. If you want a new band to fall in love with, they are for you. They are yours. Treasure them. Spread the word. Give them your ears, give them your love. I think the main reason as to why I love them is because they cite Salt ‘N’ Pepa as one of their influences on their Facebook page. I’m not being sarcastic reader. I have so much love for Salt ‘N’ Pepa. I used to want to dress like them. I think I wanted to be part of the band too. That desire is still there. Anyway, more to the point- I love their music (TFWSC) because you can tell they are doing their own thing. They make music because they want to and have a love for it. They’re not ripping anyone off which is all the more reason as to why you need them in your life.
Beat In My Bones. 