Live4ever Presents: Shields


shields

Newcastle upon Tyne is often vastly underrated for a music scene which has provided us with sixties gritty blues phenomenon The Animals, while the abrasive alt-punk of Maximo Park put the city back on the map during the mid-Noughties indie peak, reminding us that the Geordies should be recognised for much more than the Brown Ale drinking, football crazy stereotype.

As if to reaffirm that Tyneside is still a force to be reckoned with musically, synth-pop act Shields are said to be the brightest light to emerge from an increasingly exciting musical vista at the heart of the area. A much anticipated EP aptly labelled ‘Kaleidoscope’, matching with the vibrancy of the rainbow bursting, psychedelic wall of colour in their new rave based sound, is set to drop as a free download from the band’s website on November 19th.

Recorded in their own studio, creating a well rounded and immersive tone listeners would be forgiven for thinking had been crafted by seasoned producers, the six-track record showcases precisely why Radio 1’s Zane Lowe greeted previous singles ‘White Knuckle Tight Grip’ and ‘Spires’ with such excitable interest in the latter half of 2011.

With the hype machine in full motion, lesser bands may have wilted under the considerable pressure of national airplay, but right from the immediate jaunty synth spikes of headline track ‘Mezzanine’, any uncertainty is dispelled, as the punchy Friendly Fires style groove bass makes way for soaring Metronomy inspired vocals, collaborating for an infectious blend of musical bliss.

Beneath the cacophony of effervescent sound waves are intricate lyrics likening an individual to a ‘Mezzanine’, otherwise known as a partial lingering floor between the main floors of a building – an accurate method of describing a secretive and stealthy human being during a relationship communication breakdown. The track is made all the more alluring when viewing the personification laden-accompanying video, depicting the band as sock puppets, with a love story unfolding before things eventually turn sour to the point where one half of the once besotted items of clothing is mauled by a kitten in true madcap Greek tragedy fashion.

A cantering bassline intro begins ‘Miserly’, as jangly guitars take a more prominent role alongside an 80’s disco inspired synth breakdown during the chorus, before a quieter interlude exposes the raw power of the towering lead vocals shared by front men Luke Elgie and Rich Sutton throughout the EP, until a high pitched, vibrato heavy lead break concludes the song.

Turning Corners’ is a track which keeps on throwing curveballs, with its ragtime like keyboards and frantic vocal spouting in keeping with the frenetic unpredictability hinted at in the track’s title. The pounding percussion drives the tune, with more complex drumming patterns interspersed throughout, suggesting a well grounded rhythmic section that allows for the non-linear overall sound found within the record.

Arcade Fire inspired ‘Silhouette’ cements the band as anything but a one trick pony, with elaborately delicate instrumentation creating a platform for a series of uplifting ‘whoa-ohhs’ and a power chord heavy explosion of guitars before settling into stuttering bass reverberation, spanning several genres in the process for a euphorically accomplished track which happily transcends a pinpoint description.



SHIELDS – White Knuckle Tight Grip by SHIELDS

Guitars are out in full force once more on the power-pop inclined ‘Momentum’, underpinning Beach Boys style harmonies for a powerful track which contrasts stabs of guitar during the verse with the volume regularly cranked up for a heavy rock sound, containing a sense of irony in its harshness as the harmonising vocals continue to swirl politely around the guitar thrashes in scant disregard.

As if to show they’re not frightened of a challenge, the band’s re-imagining of SBRKT’s ‘Pharaohs’ adds yet another dimension to their broad musical spectrum, encapsulating the addition of urgent guitars missing from the original track, making for a quiet versus loud dynamic which does the post-dubstep gem a definite justice and then some. The track will be available as a bonus song on the limited edition CD version and extended iTunes download.

This impressive assortment of tracks shows the band have enough variation to set them apart from the collection of prior new wave pioneers such as the Klaxons, injecting the genre with a renewed sense of cerebral ingenuity which may well see the dawning of a revitalised new era for innovative, credible, shimmering indie pop of which the music world has been lacking for several years.

(Jamie Boyd)

Official
Facebook
Twitter


Learn More