What do you get when you cross Tuung with Diagrams ? Or more specifically, Mike Lindsay from Tuung and Sam Genders from Diagrams ? The result is Throws which happens to be the output of a planned meeting and get together to chew the fat.
Now based in Reykjavik, Lindsay invited his old mate Genders over to catch up on life, and they decided the opportunity was too good to pass up and the result was the self titled debut album, released in the UK on the ever reliable Full Time Hobby.
So what does it sound like ? Well, obviously, there are Tuung influences of persuasive pulsing lo fi, and quirky upbeat electronica a la Diagrams, yet the sum of the parts is lively, fresh and appealing.....just like that Icelandic air.
The 2 voices harmonise perfectly - Lindsay with his earthy flat style, and Genders with his falsetto top end, over a mainly acoustic heart to the record. Iceland seemingly has influenced the recording extensively - check out the ethereal and downright beautiful Sun Gun which utilises the sting backing section of Sigur Ros who themselves go by the name Amiina. It’s difficult to not get the influence of Sigur Ros out of your head once you know when the recording took place, and indeed what you might imagine a meeting of Tuung and Diagrams might sound like, and that is certainly no bad thing.
Opening track The Harbour, starts rather unexpectedly with thumping bass drum and electric guitar set to echo mode, before the almost Floyd-like harmonies implore us to “please, won’t you stay, in the harbour”, then moving onto Bon Iver territory....This has been an ear worm for a couple of days now.
Punch Drunk Sober - the second track released ahead of the album, is a synth driven electronic vibe - think John Grant from his Pale Green Ghosts album, rather than Queen of Denmark.
Silence in Between changes direction again, with a simple acoustic guitar opening, and again some soaring string backing - a gorgeous 2 1/2 minutes.
The quite bonkers album closer is the 6 minute Under The Ice, which is partly narrated, and partly sung - seemingly about some sub aquatic encounter with a woman who then turns into an albatross.....maybe Lindsay distills his own Icelandic moonshine ?
This is an album that wears its influences very clearly, none more so than the country of Iceland itself. For me, a little more Tuung and a little less Diagrams influence would have been perfect, but you can’t argue this is a worthy addition to both artists' output. Quirky, energetic, at times sublime, and always interesting. Looking forward to catching up with them at End of the Road later in the year.
8/11
Keith @kjsmith4082
