a little solidarity goes a long way…
(photo credit:Shane Kelly, www.ballinascreen.com)
I have a confession to make. Despite the fact that And So I Watch You From Afar have been trumpeted all over the blogosphere and indeed in mainstream media, I’ve only listened to them in the past week. It’s a shame that it’s taken me so long as well, as I’ve been searching for a band just like them for the past four or five years. With the release of ASIWYFA’s eponymous debut album in less than one month and the release of the wonderful single “A Little Solidarity Goes A Long Way” the future looks pretty bright for a band that looks odds on to release the best album of 2009. It’s a bold statement but hell, that’s how damn good these guys are.
The whole instrumental post rock/punk thing isn’t really a new concept. You’ve got the wonderful Mogwai, and you’ve got the superb Explosions in The Sky. The slight problem I have with both these bands is that they concentrate too much at times on creating works of art and beautiful symphonies with electric guitars, and not enough on just going “balls to the wall”. Sigur Ros suffer at times from being a little too fragile, and the vocals can get on your nerves at times, let’s be honest. ASIWYFA simply combines the best bits of other bands, adds in their own unique talents and influences, and the output is solid gold.
The tracks that I’ve heard combine an intensity and an incredible energy with gorgeous melodies and beautiful, beautiful layers. It’s catchy as hell as well: you still have the 7 minute symphonies but there’s good reason for each track to be that long. “Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate” and “The Voiceless” highlight this perfectly: you’re gripped, you’re fascinated by this incredible sound. However, the single, "A Little Solidarity Goes A Long Way" (the name of a Belfast festival set up by the band which I sadly missed) is an absolute gem. Watch the video below, and I'm sure you'll fall in love.
Mandela Hall hosts an ASIWYFA album launch on Saturday 4th April: tickets are £9 and available from the usual outlets. The wonderful Lowly Knights are supporting, along with Pocket Billiards who are wonderful live. If you want to be thrilled and amazed by the NI music scene, simply go ahead and buy a ticket: these lads will simply blow you away.
Labels: and so i watch you from afar, asiwyfa
Got hold of this through your Fasfude post- manversusjim by the way. Reads helluva well, this blog. Nice one. Good shout with the ASIWYFA craic too; probably my favourite band in Belfast at the minute. Also kinda ragin' I missed the fest thingy but I think it sets a good precedent for bands in the area to do stuff like thins. A move in the right direction, certainly.