Speak & The Spells
She's Dead

Cover art for She's Dead by Speak & The Spells Description: 7" on Robot Elephant, limited to 500 copies
Format: 7" (vinyl)
Genre(s): Indie Rock
Label: Robot Elephant
Price:
£4.09
Availability: In stock. Dispatched in 1 working day.

4Rating: 4
...according to our on 04 March 2010.

'She's Dead' is the title of the new 7" by Speak & The Spells which I'm kinda liking as well (I'm doing well this week!) If you're into gothic garage rock then you'll love this!! It's kind of what the Horrors were doing 5 years ago but with a medway (Billy Childish) twist... Garagey, surfy blues rock with ample hairy balls and nice tinny production. I've just clocked The Horrors and Billy Childish in the press release actually so I can't be million miles away. I should read this things first otherwise I look like I'm just copying them. Worra twat.

Love this record? Hate it? Tell us.

What their label says...

“I used to have a girlfriend…..but she’s six feet underground”

Describing their sound as “A kick in the teeth…..with a load of reverb”, Speak & The Spells formed somewhere deep inside their collective vinyl collection. And now they’re adding to yours with their debut single.

The ominous surf-rock opening riff of ‘She’s Dead’ sets the tone for a b-movie style tale of grief and grave digging. Scratchy guitars and screams provide the perfect soundtrack for singer Joe Eakin’s lament. Front man Joe is joined by Benjamin Craven (Bass) and Alex Felstead (Drums) to complete a stripped back, bare essentials line-up that’s a million miles from the gadget heavy electro of 2009 but just as thrilling.

The equally enthralling b-side ‘Brianna’ show’s a spiced up more punk side to the band, while ‘Caleb Pink’ finds the band in a more experimental mood with a 4.5 minute instrumental.

Initially bonding at school through a shared love of Garage, Psych and Freak-Beat, the 3-piece outfit was conceived in a West London storeroom playing covers of 60s teenage garage heroes like The Downliners Sect and Tintern Abbey before developing their own unique and exciting style.

Straight out of school, the band created ‘Ricky Ticks’ in a Soho basement, a bi-monthly clubnight where they could play their records and hone their live act. They quickly caught the attention of fellow London promoters, which led to them supporting one of their personal idols; Billy Childish and being invited by The Horrors to play their own night ‘The Cave Club’.  They’ve also played alongside the likes of The Guillotines, Bo Ningen and The Vinyl Stitches.

‘She’s Dead’ is one of those records destined to accompany the sound of needle hitting wax but perfectly at home on your ipod as well as in your pile of prized 45’s. Be sure to pick up one of the limited edition 7”s in the new year.