Fallout Recordings

Attic Lights

When you start to talk about the Glasgow heritage of great rock and roll bands and that seemingly inherent and unerring ear for a good tune, one needs to tread carefully to avoid the eggshells of clichés that litter that particular path.

 

It’s easy, for example, to fall into the traps of gushing about ‘pop sensibilities’ and ‘well crafted tunes’ that infest the way but, bugger it, there’s simply no other way – Attic Lights are a damned fine band, who write classic harmonic indie pop and have the potential to soar us all away on the sort of tunes that take us to the good places.

 Yes, Attic Lights are from Glasgow, and, yes, are yet another example of the depth of that particular talent pool.  They are five: Kev - acoustic guitar and vocals; Colin - bass and vocals; Jamie - electric guitar, keyboards and vocals; Tim - pedal steel guitar and electric guitar; and Noel - drums, glockenspiel and vocals. Having made their mark with their debut single ‘Never Get Sick Of The Sea’ and follow-ups ‘God’ and ‘Bring You Down’ (to which David Gest contributed a guest monologue over the middle eight) the band are on the verge of releasing their debut album with Francis MacDonald (Teenage Fanclub, Camera Obscura and Shoeshine Records).  The Teenage Fanclub link is not lost on the listener as there are echoes of the Fanclub’s influence on Attic Lights sound, as well as elements of The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy and The Beach Boys.  Having the ability to draw from the classics and yet sound completely relevant is a sign of a band that has it sussed. With the boys now on Fallout Recordings – home of those other Glasgow pop sensibilitists The Fratellis – the plan has been is to combine a steady release of killer singles with a diet of plentiful gigging.  They have made their mark on the festival circuit this summer and head off for an Autumn UK tour as special guests to Paul Heaton.  Their new single ‘Wendy’ is out in October. Do me a favour, when you see their name at the local dance hall buy a ticket, it will be worth it.