"86"

They say that patience is a virtue and I suppose in some cases that could be true, however in the music world patience doesn't exist. It seems like forever and a day since I reviewed the last Stonehouse Violets release and as anyone who had a swatch at that review will know I was fairly impressed with it. I've been aching to get my hands on some new material from the guys for months so when it finally arrived I couldn't wait to get the speakers cracked up and the sub-woofer as high as I could (who gives a fuck about neighbours eh?)

The new EP from SHV "86" takes a slightly different direction from previous material, it's more hard hitting and has more of a "finished" feel. That's not to say that what the band were producing earlier felt in any way weaker, not at all. It's quite clear that the band are progressing at a rate of knots and instead of taking those tentative baby steps that most musicians take Stonehouse Violets are approaching music as if they're the first people to land on the moon. They're oozing this "Look at us, we're doing it and fuck you" mentality and it works so well for them. Albert Schweitzer once said "The only escape from the miseries of life are music and cats"  I'm pretty sure if he were around right now that could possibly read "The only escape from the miseries of life are Stonehouse Violets and cats"

The new four track EP is crafted in such a way, that for me, each track builds on the last."Saviour" opens up the EP and it's a nice simple but pleasant introduction to the band. There's nothing particularly special about this track and there doesn't need to be, it does it's job. It's an opener and it's an opener which leads into three other tracks that are masterfully crafted together. 

"SOS" "Empty Spaces" and "Leaves will Fall" all bring their own thing to an EP that is a strong outing from the word go. There's hints of 'The Dismemberment Plan' and 'Clap your hands say yeah' coming through at certain points but I think it's safe to say that it's all Stonehouse Violets. The band have no doubt found a sound that really works for them and it's just brilliant to sit and listen to the hard work that's gone into the music. The music isn't over labyrinthine, there's nothing overly complex because they don't need it. Personally I can't get enough of "Empty Spaces" it's so powerful and leaves a wondrous after taste in your ears. 

Art has Picasso, Movies have Stanley Kubrick and Music has Stonehouse Violets.

You can grab a copy of the EP "86" for the bargain of £4 just head over to http://stonehouseviolets.bandcamp.com/album/86