Last year I happened to chance on Ninetails’ Ghost Ride the Whip and was immediately
struck by how mature and confident they sounded, even though it was their debut
release. Despite it being a very short EP featuring only three tracks, the
Liverpool-based band certainly made an impact that created musical ripples
which definitely turned heads at the time. Although, some wrote them off as
being another indie ‘hype’ band that would end up being recycled into NME toilet paper. While it was a good EP
with a distinct sound and influences I was left with an unresolved impression
of the band, it was too fleeting and I wanted to hear more. Well, over a year on
Ninetails are back with a new, equally impressive EP with almost double the
material (five whole tracks!) that aim to impress; but is it enough to drag
them out of obscurity?
This EP definitely establishes their ‘math rock’ intentions
but suggests their inspiration was born from a very eclectic range of
influences. Slept and Did Not Sleep’s
tone sways sleepily between a calming ambience to rhythmic indie-pop
reminiscent of Everything Everything and complex arrangements similar to Battles. Although mostly comprised of delicate
guitar riffs and ambient whimsy there are definite bluesy vibes that
occasionally come to the fore on more gentle tracks like the opener Maybe We. What really defines this EP is
how all of these influences interweave and create a sense that you are listening
to one seamless narrative, not a series of individual tracks. The second track Body Clock sounds like two completely
different songs as it gradually evolves from being a jumpy, pop-fuelled number
into a more sombre and tonally dark affair. Sadly though there is a lack of
material despite the longest track, Boxed
In, being some eight minutes in length. It is little more than white noise
which isn’t particularly constructive, other than to provide a break between
tracks. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though as it does demonstrate
Ninetails’ experimental nature which sets them apart from most of their
contemporaries.
The two most notable tracks are definitely Rawdon Fever, a joyous and lively tune
which is probably the most complex arrangement with a bluesy bass meshed with
twangy guitar riffs. It was definitely the
turning point for me as it is the first really distinctive track that changes
the tone tremendously. Mama Aniseed
is another lively track with some sharp vocals that again echo Everything Everything
and a rhythmic skill comparable to Grizzly Bear, while still maintaining a
distinctive sound.
Overall this is a nice little EP that soothes and intrigues
and builds on nicely from the band’s debut. It is a little frustrating that we
are yet to see a full album from Ninetails and, although mature and well
constructed, it only seems like a snippet of what the band are capable of. There is a sense that they are still exploring and we don’t yet
have a clear picture of what they can really do. However, Slept and Did Not Sleep is a notable and promising sign that they
might not become back page of NME fodder and could become a force to be
reckoned with.
Slept and Did Not Sleep by Ninetails is out on 10th
December via Superstar Destroyer Records.
DS
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