It's only been a short career thus far for Psychologist, and indeeed with just two EPs and less than a handful of live shows under his belt it may initially appear a little bit of a stretch to make him out Artist of the Week. But we live in an age that values quality not quantity, where it only takes one song to break you and another to sustain you. With this in mind Psychologist is an out right over-achiever.
Psychologist is the moniker of Iain Woods. Apparently once a children's TV presenter, Iain first made waves with the release on his Stainlavsky EP which saw him win Channel 4's 2008 talent awards in the music category. It was a near silent time after the win for Woods, who was busy creating and perfecting the music that would soon have him morph in to his Psychologist guise.
Woods' forward thinking, theatrical talents had many labels keeping an eye on the Psychologist project, waiting to hear the initial fruits of his labour. Yet it was Moshi Moshi imprint Not Even (who had also lined up a single with Becoming Real) that Psychologist chose to call home. Woods completed the recordings for his first EP, 'Waves Of OK' on the 31st of January 2011 and in a letter sent to label boss Theo Lalic described the music as "a collection of tender, pensive songs which all contain references to looking out for somebody, being a guardian angel of some sort." The record saw its release two months later on single sided, etched 12" vinyl and was received with almost entirely positive critical acclaim, one site in particular nothing that Wood's was " a curiously wonderful enigma."
It had already been decided that 'Waves Of OK' would have a follow up EP, and that Woods wanted the records to be seen as a two part release which he asked to be "known casually as 'Epidural'." It was soon after that Not Even announced this sequel was ready and had been called 'Propeller', the songs this time round seeming far, far darker than his previous effort,offering a wholly jarring and unsettling record. Still, 'Propeller' was received this time universally as a great piece of work, and has surely made its way into our very own end of year list.
This is as far as we've been led by Woods into his own journey as Psycholgist and along the way we've picked up some of the music of the year, unafraid to push boundaries and align itself with it's own art to create its context. It's later this week that we get to embark on a trip to see a rare live outing for Psychologist, to step directly into his world and see how it feels - after all Psychologist isn't a common occurence in music, an anamolie naturally doing things which differ from those around him. There's undoubtedly something intensely engaging about the world in which he has created.
Not Even/Moshi Moshi release the 'Propeller EP' on the 11th August. Pre-order a copy at the Not Even Store.Psychologist plays a special EP launch party ay London's Elektrowerkz on the 11th August. Tickets available here
