thistle. - it's nice to see you, stranger (Blue & Red Swirl Vinyl)

Like so many bands that have gone on to change music, Northampton’s thistle. started life in a garage. Over the past two years the trio have rehearsed and recorded in this confined practice space, giving birth to a series of singles, plus an EP in the process. In this short time, the band’s oeuvre has cemented thistle. as one of the most promising new UK acts, with tastemakers like radio DJ Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music) attending gigs and record label Venn (High Vis, Bob Vylan) coming on board to release the latest EP. Despite the support, the three piece are still set on blazing their own path. With a singular guitar amp pushed to breaking point, deafeningly loud drums and rumbling basslines, their lofi instrumental attack gives way to dreamlike melodies that surf the thunder and push the music into netherworlds of shoegaze, indie rock and hardcore, a unique blend that’s undeniably thistle.

Across this release, the sound stretches from delicate moments of vulnerability that barely whisper along, to a clamour of feedback roaring through the speakers like a jet plane, consistently emotive in delivery and always surprising. While drummer Lewis O’Grady pushes and pulls on the loud quiet aspects of the track, the dual vocal delivery of guitarist Cameron Godrey and bass player Carey Judwyn Rushton harnesses the intensity, conjuring beauty and catharsis throughout. It’s a style of songwriting that captivates the listener, making you feel like you’re in that garage with them, strumming the riffs and pounding the drums. 

thistle. themselves cite influences ranging from “Pavement to Polachek”. While there are clear leanings towards the alt rockness of bands like Diiv and Ovlov, as well as the harder edged style of Title Fight and Deftones, it’s clear the sonics of the Nineties ring throughout the songs, bringing to mind notable musicians like Billy Corgan and Thom Yorke. 

The vinyl version of ‘it’s nice to see you, stranger’ combines the EP of the same name with previously released singles ‘bitebitebite’, ‘close to my chest (hesitate)’, ‘magpies’, ‘lomochrome’ and ‘tiletalk’, making this their most concise catalog release to date.

1. cobble/mud 

2. it's nice to see you, stranger

3. fleur rouge

4. holy hill

5. wishing coin

6. bitebitebite

7. close to my chest (hesitate)

8. magpies

9. lomochrome

10. tiletalk