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That time of the year is coming around again, when we
reflect on what has gone before us during the last twelve months, when we, with
the benefit of hindsight sum up whether or not the year has been quite as good
as we hoped it might be in those cold, hopeful early days of the year. Without a
doubt there have been some off putting sounds produced, but, as always, there
are hidden deep in the dark corners of record shops the occasional gems. Some
distant stars have faded, some have disappeared completely, and some new
pretenders to the throne have emerged, and Decoration are most certainly in
amongst the latter. With a verve and a thrust and an uncompromising swagger they
have presented us with perhaps the most exciting, invigorating and fresh
sounding record of the year and the recognition is slowly starting to stand up
and be counted, be sure, this is a band of whom you will hear more.
This is the second full release single from their well rapturously received
debut album Don’t Disappoint Me Now. Pine, lifted directly from the album, is brought along
with brand new song I Just Froze as a double A side, and accompanied by
See You in the New Year as an extra track. The lead tracks were recorded
at Gravity Shack in London with House of Love producer Pat Collier, with See
You in the New Year being recorded at Verden Studios in Edinburgh by Gavin
Fort (during the bands short Scottish tour with Ballboy in October this year).
Pine
is a sublime moment of effervescent indie pop which details the realization of a
lack of desire in a relationship which is bound to fail, whilst all the time
recollecting the first flush of romance over the shrubs in the alpine section of
the garden centre that made the love so real. This is a tale of darkness told
with that cheeky northern tongue in cheek-ness that sets the tone for the bands
album, and indeed defines the lyrics in a stand out from the crowd manner. The
cascading guitars and backwards hand claps provide a thrillingly winsome
juxtaposition to the heart break of the lyrics and with the plagiarism of David
Essex’s Hold Me Close as the denouement you couldn’t ask for a more
plaintive nod and a wink to the truth. Pure, unadulterated wistful indie pop at
it’s best.
I Just Froze and See You in the New Year provide a brace of festive themed bookends
that showcase Decorations ability to turn their collective hands to song writing
from opposite ends of the spectrum. The former, a giddy, dizzy romp through a
teenage disco fiasco which manages to sour the whole Christmas experience. From
the over zealous doormen to the inevitable disappointment at W.H. Smith Vouchers
and socks left under the tree, it’s all there; the queuing for taxis in the
snow, the Salvation Army bands and the sight of your girl rising up for air from
another mans passionate embrace, all set to an explosive soundtrack that almost
roller coasters itself right off the rails before just pulling itself back from
the brink. The latter, See You in the New Year is a lo-fi slow
ache, with droning guitars and soothing organ lines that steadily looks you in
the eye, and tears a strip from your heart before slowly turning and walking
away
This release sees
Decoration wrapping up a year that has seen them skirt on the edges of
greatness, sessions from Huw Stephens and Gideon Coe, and regular plays from the
likes of Steve Lamacq and Jane Gazzo show that the pretenders to the Peel crown
are fully behind this band. Invites to support from The Wedding Present and
Ballboy suggest that their more seasoned peers are ready to embrace the next
generation of northern, guitar wielding, heart on their sleeve song writers.
Get in whilst you can, these boys are sure to move and to
shake and they'd like to have you along for the ride.
Decoration play the SL Records
Christmas party at Edinburgh Bongo Club on the 15th December
Johnny Mac
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