Review: Hockeysmith “But Blood” EP

04 Jun 2014 — Henry Schiller

Hockeysmith are English sisters who use chillwave wizardry to hide astral hymns behind a stunning facade of club pop.

But Blood has four songs and they vary quite a bit in style, with the EP working its way from electronic resonance to villainous acoustic arpeggios. But an appeal to that mysterious force known only as “vibe” means that But Blood still has a stylistic coherence, and that these tracks very much do belong together on one EP. But Blood is an hors d’oeuvre plate of Hockeysmith’s different abilities where each morsel has a signature twist, some secret special ingredient, that obviates the creations as the work of one master chef.

But Blood opens with the instrumental “Phantom Whistle” a warmup, giving immediate indication that the sequence and pacing of the EP has been carefully considered; that But Blood is a meticulous construction, not just a random sampler of four tracks. “Phantom Whistle” is an engine revving, posturing: the internal combustion of a powerful instrument, smooth and destructive. "Phantom Whistle" is a wink and a nod at maximum speed, but still only a prelude to motion itself.

 

An EP like But Blood had better not hav more than one instrumental track. Not that “Phantom Whistle” isn’t fantastic: there just isn’t much space on But Blood and Hockeysmith’s most palpable appeal is the sisters’ ‘pen knife the size of a javelin’ vocals. Lead single “But Blood” is something of a mid-90s throwback; the impatient fuss of Placebo meets the sonic ubiquity of more artful guitar groups like Twin Sister, or Everything But the Girl.

On “Hesitate” blasts of low synth groan out under a lively dance beat, vocals link pop unambiguousness with woodland harmonies. Meanwhile, “Meanwhile” is a chilling acoustic riff underset by echoing electronics and distant vocals, all of which is cut into by percussive thuds and exasperation. It’s an escape from the horrors of the woods - from the witches' cauldrons and the trailer parks - into the horrors of urban life. Let the city be the new evil forest, let the council flats and skyscrapers be this century’s hidden fortresses and magic towers. Then let it all crumble to dust.

But Blood is out now digitally via Double Denim Records; you can catch a live performance of the EP at Corsica Studios on June 16.