Sporting members of Swim Deep, Kagoule, Blood Wizard and the London Philharmonic Orchestra in their ranks, newcomers pencil release a baroque-tease of a debut single. ‘The Giant’ is out now via a relaunched Moshi Moshi records’ Singles Club.
Like watching a sketch on white paper bring itself into barely comprehensible, abstract form – a total truth that’s only suggested, not fully revealed – ‘The Giant’ proposes something naked, bare, and extraordinary. Existing only as a raw, untarnished vocal lilting across fretful, squirrelling violin arpeggiations, the track falls nothing short of a brave and exquisite intro to the band’s self-professed ‘dusty’ aesthetics. All in all, it’s a wistful glance into the quintet’s emotionally rich, sepia-toned subtleties – keeping its cards close to its chest, with winning hands yet to be played.
More than satisfied with its post-punk glories, the recent emergence of groups like Tapir!, The New Eves, Mary in the Junkyard, and now pencil, predicts an incoming wave of a sensitive, orchestral and more lyrical breed of songsmithery flourishing from South England’s counter-culture.
Photo by Jonah Braverman
So Young is a new music magazine and the new issue is out now. Buy your print copy here or read the digital edition below.