(4-track EP/ 2003)
The Entity that is London-lodging WINTERLONG has more startling clout than The Second Coming. These 4 songs are some of the most sublime I�ve ever heard, especially the first 3 of these 4.
Fronted by the delectably named Erol Golbas, dear chap Erol is such a sweet singer seducing the raging heaven of toiling emotions above.
�Criminal Chicken� is an epic masterpiece that dear Jeff Buckley may have creamed himself over given half a litre of Freshly Whipped, and once the delicate soundscape and Mogwai-hypnotised comfort of the chorus saunters into place, nobody on earth could ever have the audacity to complain that Winterlong (panned out byBassist Will Irvine and percussionist Dan Evans) are un-emotional. �Hide In Vain� and �Soliloquy� are the mid-EP highlights for me though, as Hide in Vain�s tense, under-stated intro jaw-shockingly develops into one of the most beautiful shards of introspective admission and confession I�ve ever heard, and what�s more it sounds almost exactly like the mighty Black Lines� almighty �Evacuate Now� Alt.-rock sensation. The vibe is magical, as Erol sings out his heart to such a compassionate extent that there is a serious risk it may never ever return, reminding also of York�s Sevenball in the staggeringly emotive process.
�Soliloquy,� while being one bastard of a word to spell even when stone cold sober, favours a sad guitar melody accompanied by such tender piano tinklings that I�m reminded of The Cure at their most heartbreakingly searing and soaring and captivating, as the orchestral backing and Erol�s Richard Thompson-sized vocals of soul mournfully lead into �Money To Pay� with its quintessentially experimental ragged guitars and groovy beat, baby.
And it takes just 3 committed musicians to produce such a distinctive and unforgettably poignant sound. For humanity�s sake, please look out for them on the live circuit around London where they regularly play. And surely amaze anyone within earshot of such beauty in music as a life-consoling art form�
(STEVE RUDD)
www.winterlong.co.uk
E-mail� [email protected]
Tel, Erol: 07941 267583