A Powys trio whose free-spirited invention and exuberant intensity flows through experimental pop: hypnotic, exhilarating and defiantly unique. The Welsh band Islet reveal new single ‘Geese’ from their new album on 6th March 2020. They’ll also have some UK live dates in March around the record’s release.
UK 2020 live dates
05 Mar: Space 289, London, UK
06 Mar: Florence Park Community Centre, Oxford, UK
07 Mar: Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, UK
Pre-order link: https://fire-records.lnk.to/
With nods towards Arthur Russell and Jenny Hval, and coming in at almost seven minutes, ‘Geese’ is a mini symphony of driven electronica. Washes of synth lap over a minute of delicate balladry before four-to-the-floor beats kick in to reveal the joyous ‘Fly fly fly’ hookline. Lyrically the track draws inspiration from ‘People Of The Black Mountains’, a novel set in pre-history by Welsh cultural theorist Raymond Williams, and ‘Pastoral Interlude’, a photographic series by Ingrid Pollard. The final minutes of the track descend into a collision of overpowering layered vocals, live drums and swirling synths.
Eyelet was recorded at home tucked away in the hills of rural Mid Wales. It took form the months following the birth of band members Emma and Mark Daman Thomas’ second child and the death of fellow band member Alex Williams’ mother. Alex came to live with Emma and Mark, and the band enlisted Rob Jones (Pictish Trail, Charles Watson) to produce.
The band have chosen a homophone of their name for the album with good reason – Eyelet will put Islet on the map. Their finest and most definitive work to date, these eleven tracks of crystalline beauty are shot through with the band’s devious pop sensibility.
If you have enjoyed Islet’s previous work, you’ll be taken back at the level of melodic verve and lyrical intensity they have accomplished here; if you’re new to them, then brace yourself for a journey to the other side of pop with Eyelet.
“They invigorate the sense of life on the margins with this whirlwind of psychedelic pop” The Guardian
“Unhinged, euphoric, wonderful.” Pitchfork
“They create an ideology that fuels creativity” The Quietus
Photo credit: Rhodri Brooks
Fire Records
