Originally Brighton based they now hang out in Bristol, the streets of which feature in one of these videos. I originally came across Squid during the pandemic during my early Post Rock explorations. Squid are, along with Black Country New Road a favourite of the band from then. They are a much more sophisticated version of Black Midi and, thankfully, far less arche. They too have wildly veering time signatures and stylistic variances that they blend together with finese, exhileratingly well. Their lead singer and drummer Ollie Judge has completely mastered the half spoken half screamed vocalism of James Chance, but better controlled and modulated. In less proximity to the edge of insanity. Their first album Bright Green Fields was really good. The best of many fabulous tracks is Peel St which opens this session for KEXP which demonstrates just how tight they are in live performance.
Their second album O Monolith is due out at the beginning of June. As is the case these days single tracks are being posted on You Tube as a taster. So far its been Swing (In a Dream) and the latest this week Undergrowth. These reveal a continuing dexterity in the handling and melding of their unique style, so bodes well for the full album when it finally lands. These two tracks are pretty excellent.
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