On Fell - N/A

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

5...according to our Clinton on Thu 13 Oct, 2011.

There are enough obscure indie/electronica demi-luminaries on here to fell a horse, featuring as it does Andrew Johnson (Hood/Remote Viewer), Chris Adams (Hood, Bracken), Craig Tattersall (The Boats, Remote Viewer, Hood) and Paul Dorrington (Wedding Present). What emerges are two slabs of electronic pop that are forward looking in the production values yet blatantly in thrall to the great and good of independent musics rich history. The result is something akin to what would happen if The Field Mice signed to Hyperdub. Side A (there are no titles) starts in spectacular fashion with crunchy electronics, smart vocals and glistening guitars conjuring up that rarely heard midway point between Autechre and The Orchids. The song then veers off into several pleasant musical cul de sacs taking in a Peter Hook bass solo and some Bobby Wratten heartbreak along the way yet frustratingly doesn't quite live up to its stunning opening salvo. On the flip the conventional yet pretty opening guitar strums and vocals recall The Field Mice in their 'For Keeps' pomp but the song only comes to life with a sky scraping blast of digi-gaze (yep, I just invented that) with Bobby Gillespie-era Jesus and Mary Chain pounding snare, whistling feedback and heavily effected vocals. The record fits perfectly into the current vogue for retro indie fetishism, referencing Sarah Records, The Smiths and New Order along the way but you'd also be justified in filing it alongside your modern day Darkstar, Postal Service and early M83 discs.

Chris Adams and Andrew Johnson go back some. As 17 year olds they met by chance,
Andrew subsequently being drafted in to Chris (and brother Richards) fledgling
shamblecore outfit Hood.
The three formed the core of the Leeds post pop pioneers mid life jog, overseeing a
slew of maverick releases and eventually running through to the groups long standing
relationship with leftfield giants Domino records.
Andrew eventually flew the nest with band mate Craig tattersall to form influential
electronics sadsters The remote viewer.
Hood continued to flourish and when the inevitable artistic hiatus was announced chris
jumped ship to US uber hip posthop label Anticon, currently tweaking beats on his second
Bracken album as I type.
Anyway, that's the history. What we are here to say is that on fell is a brand new short
term venture from the two old friends.
Formulated over 3 7" singles on fell is Chris and Andrews attempt to fuse factory and
Sarah records whilst drinking wine. Whether they succeeded or not isn't the point, they
tried.
Roping in various hands (boats/remoteviewer Craig Tattersall and wedding present
heyday strummer Paul Dorrington to name but two) as the project advances the three on
fell singles will be strictly limited, clear vinyl block rockers and will be released on spiritual
home moteer::

What you can expect is shades of every musical venture the two have ever fiddled with,
real drums, not real drums, dubs and guitars and dual vocal attacks. They've done proper
songs, not just done some bloody drone for 3 hours.
Like I said. They tried.