Following on from last month’s crafty preview single release of “Hot money” lifted from this very EP South Yorkshire republicans “Children of the State”, recently re-located to Manchester lockdown central, as promised announce the release of their debut, full 12 minute four track, EP “Tragic Carpet and the Magical Wasp Gang from Notre Dame” for our listening pleasure. Good stuff. I’m up for that, seeing as “Hot money” was a banker and went down very well here at Zodiac Stasse with its dirty garage, rhino nuggets styling and so hopes were high for this new material. Thankfully the plan worked out for “Children of the State” and what we have here is a really top handful of songs.
So, joining “Hot money” on side A is “On a clear day you can see forever”. This beguiling, down tempo, Coral-esq number features an authentically whimsical 60’s aesthetic wrapped up in great song writing and hugely enhanced with a lush production that’s crammed full of vintage guitar licks. Raising the stakes, Side B bolts out of the traps with “Baby, can you dig your man?”. Complete with rasping harmonica this maximum R ‘n’B retro garage banger hits all the right highs at the right time. This one is essentially in yer face. Love it. And wrapping up proceedings “Give up the ghost” takes us back down to earth with introspection and that distinctly Northern gritty grim resignation throughout the song writing and restores the yin and yang of it. Tremendous.
As I’ll often argue, there is something special about an EP format. To me, done right they can excel as the finest of formats. To achieve excellence in a debut EP, as “Children of the State” have done here with “Tragic carpet and the magical wasp gang from Notre Dame” is no mean feat and they fully deserves the ever louder praise that they are attracting for their endeavors. Grab this and you’ll get 12 revitalizing minutes of quality sounds that uncompromisingly affirm just how cool the Northern UK music scene really is. Time well spent I’d say. What are you waiting for?
“Children of the state”; Doing rock and pop properly.
8/10
CHILDREN OF THE STATE –
‘TRAGIC CARPET AND THE MAGICAL WASP GANG FROM NOTRE DAME’
OUT 20TH NOVEMBER
TRACK LISTING
1/ Hot Money
2/ On a Clear Day you can see Forever
3/ Baby Can You Dig Your Man
4/Give Up The Ghost
Children Of The state are made up of John McCullagh, Nathan Keeble, Corey Clifton, Conor O’Reilly and Harry Eland, the band’s blend of 70s glam rock, 60s nostalgia and electronica influences have landed them festival slots at the likes of Tramlines, Circafest and YANA Festival as well as support slots with Temples, The Mysterines and Elephant Stone – and a riotous sold out headline show at their native The Leadmill in Yorkshire.
FOLLOW CHILDREN OF THE STATE ONLINE:
Reviewed by Von Goloka.
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
