(This review first appeared in issue #62 of Shindig! magazine.)
Big
Crown CD / 10”
It takes confidence to
open an early release with a cover but here it's fitting; The Shacks'
take on Ray Davies' 'This Strange Effect' enchants and unnerves in
equal measure, setting the tone for the rest of the EP. They display
a musicality and restraint that belies their youth, with their own
compositions as satisfying as their choice of covers.
With closely mic-ed
vocals set to barely more than a whisper and lo-fi bedroom indie
backing, comparisons with Mazzy Star, Jane Birkin and the Velvet
Underground's third LP are not unfounded.
This young New York
boy-girl duo have created the sonic equivalent of Coraline,
eerie yet familiar and certain to draw you in. Also notable is the
rocksteady backing provided by The Frightnrs (Daptone Records) on
'Hands In Your Pockets'. With seven tracks on the vinyl (nine on the
CD), this is a generous appetiser for their debut LP due early next
year.
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