The Kindling-(From out of the wreckage) 10/10

At first, it's tempting to turn up the volume to make sure you've got the song playing properly. You hear a rattle-"are my speakers working?"- Then the drum beat makes you jump out of your skin. But that's a good insight;
As the first song, the whole of ''Dancers'' has a creepy, jump-out-of-your-skin texture to it.
I really love this song. Like, really love it. It's dark and slow paced, but the jagged ice-like "rewind" effect punctures the velvet smoothness. Yet it still stirs that feeling in your gut that an uptempo song does, a trait that is definitely due to Leon's driving drumbeat and the reoccuring and infectious melody of Ben's echoing bass. It's the kind of song that gazes into your eyes over coffee and makes you fall slightly in love. You know when something is so strange and beautiful that it kind of hurts a little? That's this track.

The soft guitar, stringy banjo and deep bass lines of ''Runaway shoes'' transport you to a past time, you can practically hear the sepia tints in this antiqity-kissed track. It has just a flavoring of country, like Jeff Buckley, Nick drake and Mumford and sons got ground up and spiced the edges. To put it bluntly, this is my favourite.Although a good dose of melancholia is indeed injected into the veins of this song, it stays on the right side of solemn; beautiful without being at all boring. Guy Wier's vocals whisper intimatley in your ear, the occasional lyric is inaudible for the breathy sound, but this just makes the feel of the song more intense and sensual. "Take me back home take me back home" -with a voice like that i'm sure many would love to.

''Acrobats''; Someone is speaking to you, directly to you-almost as though they are on the phone. "Was i drowning?" (with a cymbal roll coming in at precisely the perfect time.) It's a little disturbing, as though this person is not quite balanced; like an old war hero who has seen one thing too many. (This is the judgement i made from the character anyway, i invite and encourage you to make your own...) As he reflects, he half sings the odd line, creating yet another layer of intregue for this mystery man. The rguitar builds suspense, relieved by the melodic voice of the chorus. Trumpets. Yes, perfect. why didn't i think of it. the seemingly random addition of this instrument seems, after consideration, perfect. The whole song after all is nostalgic; a trait that the mournful song of this instrument adds to. It may seem that 5 minutes is a little long for a track, but not so-once you come down from the trip that is this song, you'll wish it lasted longer.

I haven't decided whether "Throw it on the fire" is a track that makes me feel uplifted, or a little low.  ...But then there's the lyrics, oh those heart-wrenching lyrics. "I know that it's over. I know that i am through. I'm just so tired of playing these riddiculuous games with you.' His voice flickers, as though at any time he may fade out... "Throw it on the fire..." Could there be a flicker of hope simmering beneath the weight of such a song? This song reaches into your chest cavity and gives your heart a good squeeze. They capture both hope and despair, serenely mixing radiating guitars and yearning vocals in this all-enveloping taste of beauty. This is however probably my least favourite song on the album, as I don't feel it has the same catchy rhythm, or experimentation, but i suppose that's like saying it's the worst of the best-and still pretty damn good.
(Author'sNote: I came back to this track 4 month's after this post was written, it's now January 2012 and ThrowItOnTheFire is now my favourite track. Goes to show what a quality album these guys have."

Have i mentioned Jeff Buckley yet? I can't help but draw the comparison. Listen to "you and I" or "Last goodbye" and tell me the soulful tone to his voice isn't somewhat familiar. However that's not to say that The Kindling sound much like anyone, they are a taste of something totaly new.
"From out the wreckage" can boast genius, individuality, and experimentation. There's a sence of real passion and individuality that raises this band from the status of "just another good band" to "a really amazing band like i haven't heard for a long time"
I wasn't going to do this, but what the hell, I think that Guy is the next Matt Bellamy. He's played seven parts on this EP; Banjo, Glockenspiel, Mellotron, tape effects, Lap steel, and of course guitar as well as singing! Jesus effing christ, in my eyes he is a genius. Let's not let this man overshadow his accompanying band mates, all of whom are exceptionally talented and were born to come together in this band.

I've listened to this band all weekend literally on repeat, and i'm still gob-smacked by them.  I'm proud that i've been asked to review such an extraordinary album, so get listening!

http://www.thekindling.info/the_kindling/Music.html