New album out today from a group I’ve loved for more than 30 years. It’s very good. And very happy to see them, after all this time, getting the lead review in the Guardian from Alexis Patredis. Also saves me reviewing it myself.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/12/tindersticks-soft-tissue-review-abundant-with-lovely-subtle-details
And yes, Stuart Staples does maybe occasionally sound like Vic Reeves’ club singer, just to get that out of the way.
And some new directions being hinted at, especially on “side1”, where there are some distinctly dub tropes in the bass lines, drum patterns and, best of all, in the brass arrangements. Drummer Erl Harvin is on fire through most of it, with some hip hop rhythms later creeping in, echoing the EC/The Roots collab. Less lush string arrangements than usual, but there are still strings aplenty. I’m so used to Staples’ idiosyncratic croon as to find him now quite orthodox, not that you can discern a single word. Overall, a more successful record, and better, than the last.
Nicely put!