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Cheatahs - Mythologies

  • Published in Albums

Hard to believe that this is only Cheatahs' second album proper, so prevalent do they seem to be in the music press and online. A full length release each of the last two years, 2015s Murasaki San & Sunne EPs and the relentless pressure of the EPs that made up the Extended Plays compilation have all done the job of keeping the band very much in focus.

With Mythologies the band have it would seem perfected the move to a more Slowdive-like brand of shoegaze. Right from the off on opening track 'Red Lakes (Sternstunden)' the sound is blissed out and background vocal parts drift in and out as if at will. Clear proof that they're growing and developing all the time.

Moments of pounding energy still exist in their sound though, as on 'Channel View' where Marc Raue gets to hammer away on the drumkit with wild abandon. Elsewhere the motorik pace you've no doubt come to expect is in no way lacking despite the overall trippier feel to the baker's dozen of songs. Cover art-wise too there's a greater maturity with those slightly eerie eight robed figures either dancing or fleeing something or who knows what? An image you could ponder over for an age.

They still find time to fit in something reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub turning all the levels up and going for a mosh with 'Freak Waves' before 'Signs To Lorelei' calms things back down. That ability to vary the songs but retain their own uniting conception is another sure sign of the band's coming into their own.

Mythologies is a fine work from a group rightly deserving their just rewards for years of effort. It's criminal I've so far failed to see them live so that needs to be remedied at the earliest opportunity (although not it seems in 2015 as their five date UK tour, November 17 - 21, takes place whilst I'm covering Le Guess Who?).

Mythologies is available from amazon & iTunes.

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Cheatahs - '紫'(Murasaki) EP

  • Published in Singles

 

11th century Japanese female authors a bit under-represented in your record collection? Fear not - Cheatahs have got that covered with the release of their second EP this year. The title track of the '紫'(Murasaki) four tracker see's the multi-national quartet identifying with the lady of the same name who wouldn't let the society of her time stand in her way of writing court life masterpieces of both prose & poetry.

On this release the band have toned down their thrashier impulses and everyone seems to have had a hand in the ideas department. Unfortunately when it comes to third track '3D Milk' they've also managed to include a track you're unlikely to feel heavily inclined to play more than once but then again there's nothing wrong with a bit of experimentation.

Whilst although less of a sonic boot in the guts than its predecessor Sunne this nonetheless (at least three times out of four) keeps the appetite whetted for what they'll get up to on album number two.

You can see the band live in the UK and Europe on the following upcoming dates:-

Sunday, 10 May 2015 - Birmingham, The Hare & Hounds ^ (Tickets)
Monday, 11 May 2015 - London, Oslo ^ (Tickets)
Wednesday, 13 May - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club ^ (Tickets)
Thursday, 14 May - York, The Fulford Arms ^ (Tickets)
Friday, 15 May - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (Tickets)
Saturday, 16 May - Bristol, The Louisiana ^ (Tickets)
Wednesday, 20 May - Brighton, Prince Albert ^ (Tickets)
Thursday, 21 May - Bruges, Cactus Club w/ The Hickey Underworld
Tuesday, 26 May - Bordeaux, Rock School Barbey (Tickets)
Thursday, 28 May - Barcelona, Primavera Sound (Tickets)

^ = co-headline w/ No Joy

'紫'(Murasaki) EP is available from amazon & iTunes.

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