The Liverpudlian three-piece Ninetails have created the EP ‘Quiet Confidence’ to be released on March 10th.
This EP is the first release since Ed Black left. When a lead singer leaves a band there are a few ways you can go. First you can try and find a replacement. This can lead to bands either going a different direction to cater for the singing, or they have someone in who doesn’t really fit the criteria but they settle for second best. There are positive and negative outcomes for both of these.
‘Quiet Confidence’ to me shows a bit of a different approach. It has an experimental sound, it feels like the band are exhaling, or even a sigh (of relief, relaxation, restlessness?). According to the band it is a recount of an exorcism. An exorcism of their previous ways of being, or a turn around from line up changes? Either way giving the band said that it is something they wanted to get out of their system. If I had this in my system, I would cling on to it.
The opening track and the latest song released by the band ‘Radiant Hex’ is a gentle, soft swell into two-step ambience. I think I might be right in saying that Ninetails may be a bit into Burial. ‘An Aria’ has some noticeable sparse guitar parts showing their range of tones with a distorted lead guitar, followed by gentle a piano part then leading into a moment of silence. Silence being an extremely hard thing to get right mid-track, too short it isn’t worth having, too long and the listener loses attention and the songs momentum is lost. It is spot on reflecting a very meditative piece. With ‘O for Two‘, again back with the guitar tones. This time cleaner, and warmer, however unlike some other forms of popular music in which the guitar becomes the focal part of instrumentation, Ninetails not only blend these crafted guitar lines they blend all the other instrumentation into it. Whether it be brass stabs, or choir backing vocal harmonies.
‘Quiet Confidence’ manages to be intricate, experimental, expansive, and all without it sounding contrived. It is free flowing. To think this music did not just fall into place from the sky, or come from some musical spirit some artists talk about makes me want to have been there in the creation of the EP. With all styles entwined together, it is hard to pin point what this music can be labeled as. This is one of the things I love about it the most. If music can be put in a box, it can mean the music is formulaic; therefore not true creation in a way (I wonder if I will get shot for saying that). This not only shows fine musicianship, it is also very well mixed; the producers and engineers must have been on the ball. For anyone who listens to music as an aid to relaxation, meditation, mental expansion then this is an EP that you must take in. Trippy, cathartic, enlightening, see what it can do for you.
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