Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Motorcade Amnesiacs

What does it sound like?:

Anyone who’s not paid much attention to Sweet Billy Pilgrim since their Mercury-nominated Twice Born Men album will be surprised to hear this. The laptoptronica and knocked up in a shed vibe have gone, replaced by a much more muscular full band sound. The melodies and harmonies remain, as strong as ever, and so do Tim Elsenburg’s songwriting chops. Some of the changing time signatures, heavy riffs and midsong shifts carry a whiff of prog (this is their first album on Kscope), but we’re never far away from a big chorus or disco breakdown. It’s an ambitious record, beautifully arranged and full of strings and brass flourishes that occasionally recall Bacharach. It also has a much bigger part of co vocalist Jana Carpenter, whose bruised voice brings a touch of Americana grit. It’s a sumptuous fully realised modern pop album that will be in the running for my top ten come end of year time

What does it all *mean*?

things

Goes well with…

don’t know, it went down nicely on a drive to Cirencester and back the other day if that helps

Release Date:

Might suit people who like…

the Steven Wilson tracks that aren’t ten minute workouts, Black Sabbath and OMD, clever quirky pop music (I’m thinking XTC here)

5