Sounds on the Ground #8: Magic and Fur
By: Dan Monsell
What's the deal? This new London-based quintet came to our attention in the very best way possible. One of us met one of them in the pub. Introduced by mutual friends on a 'punk rock' tour of Islington for a friend's birthday, we were told of the existence of this a 'new band who've got a single coming out in May on the (usually always excellent single club) Too Pure records.'
Now we're trying to sound like dicks here or anything, but we meet guys in bands in pubs like, all the time. Actually we work above a pub where we encounter a clientele very regularly who're in bands more often than they're not. Maybe it was the wonderful name, or a flash of fate, but luckily this time we actually decided to check a band-met-in-pub (B.M.I.P. for short) out - such dicks we are, we just don't have enough hours in the day to check out all the bands we want to (what have we become!?)
The great news is that it was proper good thing we did, because in three songs that we heard, we found some really wonderful new music. Full of an incredibly accomplished sound for such a new and below-the-radar band, we got all excited, listened to their songs a bunch of times and then all turned to each other and went "This is great innit? These are some of the loveliest songs from a new band we've heard for ages."
Coming on with the hushed rough-round-the-edges elegance of early British Sea Power, Magic and Fur are the sound of love-filled whimsical summer days of adventure and winter nights by the fire with a head full of thoughts. There are echoes of the Arcade Fire in the orchestral pop of 'Us', and of a youthful Fleetwood Mac in the hypnotic pop majesty of 'Christine'. But the band's sound is one that seems less aware of direct musical influence and attempts a more irrespective timeless skill at emotive song craft - similar to the likes of Nick Cave, Scott Walker or even Bat for Lashes. It's early days for these fiery-hearted newbies, but it's going to be exciting to see them grow.
What can I listen to: Early days in for these folks. There are the 3-tracks that have been put up recently on the MySpace, and we're told to expect a single in May on Too Pure (recent releases fromBear Hands, It Hugs Back, and previously The Organ, Electrelane and Mclusky).
When can I see them: A few dates to be announced. But we're very excited to hint that you should maybe keep May 26th free in your diary for a special Rockfeedback run gig at the Lexington. We reckon.
We all know music peaked in 1994, so give me a sound-bite about how we could compare them to some kind of obscure Britpop band: Throw Pulp and Cast against a wall on a hot summer day. Throw daisies on top of what's left, shape it into five males and move them to London. Tell them you love it, and then break their hearts. Then let 'em write three songs to be dug up on '09 and put up MySpace. Give that a whiz: Magic and Fur there is. (Are there really enough Britpop bands for us to continue this section for much longer?!!) [Yes! - Tom, Editor]