Labels: Captured Tracks
Review by: Oli Saunders
Craft Spell’s ‘Idle Labour’ album lies as a somewhat hidden treasure from last year, nestling in amongst Wild Nothing and Beach Fossils without seeming to cause anywhere near as much of a stir. This new record ‘Gallery’ should make amends for that; a six song EP of which rises to the top notch.
The combination of upbeat instruments, that sound like they could back a summer dance track, and Justin’s melancholy vocals, reminiscent of Morrisey and Ian Curtis, just seems to click. Joy Division is hinted at so strongly on the second track ‘Warmth’ that I am left convincing myself that it’s not a cover. Fortunately the band does not follow this course too closely for the rest of the EP. ‘Still Left With Me’ and ‘Burst’ are tracks that could have come off Idle Labour, while the flip side of the record takes an interesting but more subdued route. Certainly one of the best records of 2012 so far.
27th July 2012