The Sundowners Psychedelic Sound Works Perfectly Live & On Their Debut
Published
The Sundowners are an undeniably compelling band and their debut album, 'Sundowners', released 9th February through Skeleton Records, is a listen not to be missed. New on the scene, however, they are not. The five-piece band from Wirral, consisting of Niamh Rowe (vocals & guitar), Fiona Skelly (vocals & guitar), Alfie Skelly (lead guitar), Tim Cunningham (bass & backing vocals) and Jim Sharrock (drums) formed in 2010, playing Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing stage in 2013, and supporting Kasabian last year.
The album opens with "Wild As The Season", with its psychedelic undertones and introduction to the dynamic harmony between vocalists and guitarists, Niamh Rowe and aforementioned Fiona Skelly. One of the more energetic tracks off the album, "Back To You" builds on the harmonious vocals and psyche nature of the opening track. It is utterly catchy and if you haven’t already from the start, "Back To You" invites you to sway along, even this early on in the album.
By "Into The Light", the band’s strong folk/psychedelic style comes into full swing. To introduce this song at the band’s show in Leeds (at Oporto bar, 10th February), Fiona describes it as a song about dropping acid. It certainly provokes an ambience of strangeness and an element of other-worldliness.
The album sees a shift in style with "Who We Are and End of the Game", which have a slower, folkier vibe, but are not less catchy. A personal favourite off of the album, "If Wishes Were Horses" opens with an enthralling riff, on top of which Rowe and Skelly captivate the listener with their vocals. Coming towards the album’s end, "Hummingbird" to some extent really epitomizes The Sundowners sound. The second to last track, "Soul Responding" has a definite punchier edge to the rest of the album. Followed by "Medicine", The Sundowners do not allow for the album to end lightly.
The creation of a thoroughly passionate album, the dedication put into it running through, gives The Sundowners their engaging and compelling edge. If the album does not demonstrate this well enough, then their live presence sure enough does. The band’s show at Oporto, marks the first day of their 9 date headline tour and the day after the album’s release. The venue is a small room off Oporto’s main bar, located on Leeds’ popular and ever bustling Call Lane.
Before they even get to the stage, The Sundowners make their presence known; kaleidoscope-esque visuals are projected onto a screen behind the stage; fairy lights and flowers adorn the drum kit and microphone stands. The set list comprises mostly of songs off the album, with "Hunter" and "I Don’t Need You" from their 2014 'Medicine' EP slotted nicely in amongst. Both these songs have a different feel to that of the album and definitely add an element of the band’s musical capabilities into the mix.
The harmony between Niamh and Fiona, which is clear in the album, is even more so at the live show; the energy between the two makes it a brilliant performance to watch, besides being obviously fantastic to listen to. The overall sound feels likes an intensified version of the album. "Into The Light", for example, has a funkier, groovier feel to the record. There is no doubt that the live presence of the band and the passion in their performance contributes to this. The most enjoyable part of the set is when The Sundowners play "Hummingbird", which echoes through the venue and has a real West Coast vibe to it.
Before the show, I am told by someone who has followed The Sundowners since their formation that I am in for a treat; this was definitely the case at the Leeds show.
To find out more about The Sundowners site click here.
To visit The Sundowners Facebook page click here.
Words by Ellie Brown
