The 1975 - Facedown EP - Dirty Hit Records
The 1975 are four friends from Manchester. They make expansive pop noir that echoes their home city's sonic history.
The title track that opens their debut EP is a darkly atmospheric introduction to The 1975, densely layered synths and vocoder-effected harmonies leading into the punchy drums of heavy, electronic lead track "The City", which has already received a number of plays on Radio 1 from tastemakers Zane Lowe, Fearne Cotton and Huw Stephens, as well as plays at XFM, NME, Q and Kerrang Radio. The bright vocals that build up to the climax of "Antichrist" are a nod in the direction of peers like M83 and Phoenix, while the last of these four tracks, "Woman" aches of Jeff Buckley's early live performances, reverb soaked guitar and a vocal honesty few could carry - even the imperfections provided by the amplifier buzz speak true to the band's ethics.
It's fair to suggest The 1975 grew up understanding their city's musical heritage, yet while their sound does reflect the dark art-rock of New Order and Joy Division, some of their musical influences come from sources as eclectic as Michael Jackson, TLC and Questlove. Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel are also referenced as inspirations, while their love for Bertrand Russell, Jack Kerouac and Akbar Del Piombo suggest four well-read musicians. That much is clear from the gritty, Loach-esque realism of their lyrics, references to hospital beds and community service that speak both of despair and hope - an impressive feat on this first EP from a band so young.
Their music is a highly evolved update of the Manchester scene, characterised by lush arrangements and powerful songwriting, marking their place as much more than another a band of young of copycats.
The 1975 "Antichrist" from Facedown EP - Part 3 - video:
The 1975 December 2012 UK tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
Sun 2nd Dec Leeds Cockpit 3
Mon 3rd Dec Glasgow King Tuts
Tue 4th Dec Hull Fruit
Wed 5th Dec Manchester Sound Control
Thu 6th Dec London Barfly
Fri 7th Dec Southampton Joiners
Sat 8th Dec Birmingham Temple
For the latest tour dates, music and more, please go to:
The 1975 Official Website