Pelts - Throwing Sticks — AliveandGigging

Scottish indie six piece Pelts are Graham McCarey (vocals/guitar), Natasha Radmehr (vocals), Olly Stockman (guitar/keys), Ralph Hector (keys), Stuart Brown (bass) and Ben Brown (drums).

Since emerging in 2014 with their first release Footage, Pelts have subsequently perfected their own unique sound that they have described as “melancholia tinged folk pop”.

Their inimitable folkpop sound has been chronicled through a series of releases that have been championed by BBC 6’s Steve Lamacq, with Another Place securing a spot in The Herald’s Top 50 Scottish Songs of 2018.

Pelts will release their long awaited debut album A Little Less Lost via Iffy Folk Records this September but this is preceded by Throwing Sticks the first single from the album which is released today, Friday 21 August.

And wow what a way to introduce us to that album, Throwing Sticks is a tuuuuuuuuune !!

The track starts with the beat of a snare drum before the vocals of McCarey and Radmehr join in as the track builds itself up over the melody provided by the hazy guitar riffs and muffled synths.

It’s a triumph in its arrangement, it lasts a little over four minutes, but in that time it gives you a real emotional rollercoaster, the melodies suggest bliss, but the lyrics give you that heart twisting emotional wrench and could bring tears to the eyes as it deals with anxiety and depression outlined by the often repeated “throwing sticks for the black dog”.

The ear worm of a melody continues to drive the tune until it reaches its blustering joyous finish with the final chorus of “I love you, and you love me, and that’s just the way it’s gonna be”.

Throwing Sticks is a fantastic taster to the new album and I have been fortunate enough to have had a sneaky pre release listen, the eight track album is utterly stupendous, it has shades of The National and Arcade Fire sprinkled across it. I simply cannot wait for it to be released, fingers crossed for it to be available on vinyl.

Anyways in the meantime give Throwing Sticks a listen, it will become an instant favourite, it really is that good.

Give Throwing Sticks a stream now:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3pSylODV04qlwREMBq4lU0?si=5XKNoz0ZQqCrW8XeAgjdMg

The official video can be viewed below: