poppedmusic

Pangea

Released 26th October 2015

Words: Gary Lambert

Pangea is the latest release from the most spine tingling band on the Liverpool music scene, and a band who Blossoms described to Popped Music as “the best band in Britain at the moment” back in July.  The Vryll Society musically occupy a position more towards A Storm In Heaven era Verve rather than The Verve of A Northern Soul.  However Pangea offers the five piece the chance to show that beneath the swirls and waves of musical ability, there is also a swathe of songwriting ability to accompany it.

Opening track, Coshh (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) sounds like it should be released by a band at the top of their career.  The awkward yet wonderful number that nobody can sing along with but everybody is an awe of.  Well the awe does not stop just because The Vryll Society’s career is only starting.  As Michael Ellis intones “Jesus loves you” it feels like some higher power must do to treat you to music like this.

This EP feels more like a mini-album than an elongated single with no title track and four obviously different, properly recorded songs on board.  There is no “(Demo)” or “Live at Tony’s Nan’s Living Room” to follow the song names.  Second up is Air, which continues the expansive rock music.  This is music guaranteed to move your mind as well as the body.  With an almost trip hop vibe to the track we are treated to a laid back example of what The Vryll Society has in their locker.  With a dreamy vocal accompanying the woozy music, Air seems almost supernatural in its beauty.

Metropolis starts with Michael Ellis singing over a stark drumbeat giving the track a haunted opening prior to the rest of the band coming in to build on that.  Sounding like futuristic folk music this song grows in stature throughout without pushing themselves too far and becoming overblown.  It sounds so very serious too.  This is not music for frivolity.  This is music to test the mind of the listener.

The final track on the album is The Egg.  Clocking in at over six minutes long this showcases the majestic brilliance of The Vryll Society and everything they can be in music.  Stark and simple without being minimalist are the watchwords for the start of this song.  If I had to find a musical comparison for this song it would be Ian Brown’s later solo output played by The Stone Roses with talented musicianship being mixed with a keen intelligence in the lyrics.  “Subversive principles can take you this far there’s no glory in death”.  With their principles and abilities there is glory lying in wait for this band.  They are truly wonderful.

Listen to Pangea in full here: