Brighton based 7-piece Keg release their debut EP Assembly. Produced by the band themselves and mixed by Sean Oakley (Show Me The Body, Scalping, Kae Tempest, Sorry), "Heyshaw" is a dizzying slice of joyous indie-punk.
An undulating barrage of jagged guitars, chaotic drums, spiralling electronics and foreboding brass provide a truly unique backing for Haddenham's captivating rasp; reeling off the finer details of his mum's global excursions and the many characters who came along for the ride.
Erupting from a frenzied passion for the ‘song’, Keg toe a fine line between the angular throb of contemporary post-rock sensibilities and a timeless necessity for harmony and meticulous songwriting.
This push-pull can be heard woven into each of their compositions. What you may not hear upon first listen is the achingly personal nature of their lyrics as well as the myriad influences injected into it by its instrumentalists, all of who come from varied musical backgrounds.
Albert (vocals), Joel Whitaker (bass) and Will Wiffen (synth) grew up together around the seaside Yorkshire town of Bridlington; and like many artists growing up in removed quarters of the country, they shared a yearning to leave. Spreading around different parts of the country after leaving school, they found their bandmates in their respective cities and found one another once again on the southern shores of Brighton. Armed with a new-found wealth of influence and experience, and a thirst for musical liberation - set forth on a new pilgrimage to the battered ruins of Golgotha.
Frank Lindsay (guitar), whose background resides mostly in hip-hop, afforded the sound a unique pulse with a guitar sound which is manic, discordant but firm. Jules Gibbons (guitar, also in Spang Sisters) whose songwriting sensibilities come from a love of cadence and craft of beautiful soul ballads, imbued the band with his structured sense of composition.
Both Charlie Keen (trombone and shell) and Johnny Pyke (drums) come from classically trained Jazz backgrounds. Johnny - throughout Keg - is able to demonstrate this, as well as his ability to remain in the pocket. Similarly, Charlie can both compliment the bands manic moments as well as improvise, uniquely bringing the trombone to the foreground of the sound. There is but one aim that Keg aims to achieve - to write good music, with a wry smile.
Released: October 2021
Cat: 4050538705515
Label: BMG/Alcopop
