I slept through the falling of the leaves

I get the impression Electrelane are set to be one of those criminally overlooked bands.

And that sadly, they will always will be.

Which, when you consider the amount of one dimensional, join the dots shite that becomes unfathomably popular, is a shocking state of affairs. Not that it’s particularly surprising. I’m sure we can all think of many a band we’ve grabbed on to, only to see them shunned by society like lepers with hygiene problems. Not that it’s a great surprise. One look at the bands that seem to influence Electrelane’s sound and you could probably count the number of hit records on one finger. It reads like a veritable list of underachievers. Let’s just say the charts weren’t exactly ablaze. Critically acclaimed they may be but not what you’d call mainstream darlings. Hints of Stereolab. Echoes of the Velvet Underground. A suggestion of Sonic Youth. With a dash of post rock thrown in for good measure. All of which makes them a complete success in my eyes. Or ears.

They’re also one of those bands that has a distinct sound. No matter what they attempt, they couldn’t help but sound like Electrelane. In some cases that might sound like a criticism. But it’s not. It’s more of an observation. Their songs seem to be built around the repetition of deceptively simple refrains or melodies. Varying between the bass, organ or guitar as it’s core, the songs building in intensity. Sometimes quickly. At others the build up is drawn out, a period of calm suspense that suddenly explodes. Either way, the result is thrilling, hypnotic and disorienting.

Their albums have the feel of a live performance capture don tape. Of a band improvising within the boundaries of predefined ideas. They also at times remind me of the soundtrack to a silent movie. On where our hero is racing to stop a train from thundering over his beloved who’s tied to the tracks. But that might just be me. Anyway, like I say, they’re criminally overlooked. And sadly on an indefinite hiatus. Which leaves us with no new music but a great back catalogue to plunder. So I suggest that if you like what you hear here, you go buy some Electrelane. I’d start with ‘Axes’ and go from there.

Electrelane - bells (live session version) original version available 'Axes'

Electrelane - eight steps (live session version) original version available 'Axes'

Electrelane - in berlin (live session version) original version available 'No Shouts, No Calls'

Electrelane - to the east (live session version) original version available 'No Shouts, No Calls'

Electrelane - two for joy (live session version) original version available 'Axes'

mp3 / music / electrelane