- Label
- Beggars Banquet
- Release date
- 28th April 2008
- Genre
- Indie / rock
- Buy this album
- Order CD
The lords of indie-noir return for their first album in five years
Anyone clinging to the mistaken belief that Morrissey is the last word in misery is advised to discover the back catalogue of this well-seasoned Nottingham band. Having mastered their own brand of melancholy some years ago - fantastically arranged filmic music, a funereal pace and Stuart Staples' mumbled vocals and lyrics of romantic regret - they haven't changed gear in 16 years. You want real misery - look no further.
The Hungry Saw travels familiar territory - believers know Tindersticks gloom is more majestic than glum, wistful rather than dull and full of restrained wonder. The last thing we want from them is a funk record. Instead The Hungry Saw is the perfect soundtrack to dunking a Digestive into a strong cup of Earl Grey while browsing through a seed catalogue. There is a flicker of happy here though - E Type is an almost chirpy Francophile instrumental, the brass throughout is just gorgeous and The Flicker Of A Little Girl and The Turns We Took crackle with nicotine-stained grandeur. Grumpy but glamorous.
More to try: Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid Nick cave & The Bad Seeds: No More Shall We Part PJ Harvey: White Chalk Lee Hazlewood: Total Lee
