Slinky Vagabond: The Everlasting Return
(Self-Launched)
CD | LP | Stream
Out Now
Idea band Slinky Vagabond as soon as once more emerge from the glitz and glamour of the New York trend scene to launch their second album The Everlasting Return. And there may be little doubt that this self-described daring and electrical artwork rock band totally lives as much as expectations by way of this assortment of songs which lean on some traditional musical reference factors while creating their very personal fantastically styled soundtrack for the twenty first century.
Slinky Vagabond may be very a lot an idea band which was fashioned by Keanan Duffty because the worlds of trend and music inevitably collided. Keanan’s roots could be traced again to the suburbs of Doncaster and the colourful musical scene in close by Sheffield because the publish punk period took maintain and a complete host of musical genres exploded, each constructing on and difficult lots of the traditional influences which had gone earlier than. As Keanan developed his expertise and a vastly profitable profession on this planet of trend and the broader pattern setting scene, he all the time discovered time to craft a few of his personal music, with a presence within the creative world that resulted in him being named as one among i-D magazines most vital individuals of the Nineteen Eighties.
Following a transfer to New York from his then base in London in 1993, Keanan developed a repute as an inspiring, entrepreneurial artist and designer bringing collectively his love of music and trend, along with his standing being considerably enhanced by working alongside the likes of David Bowie, the Intercourse Pistols and Buzzcocks. While trend was undoubtedly his main ardour, Keanan couldn’t resist forming Slinky Vagabond in 2007 as an idea band with visitor collaborations at its core. And with preliminary members comparable to Earl Slick, Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Pete Shelley, it’s little marvel that they turned an integral a part of the New York membership scene, acting at high-profile celebrations comparable to Joey Ramone’s Birthday Bash alongside the New York Dolls, Trend Week’s Gen Artwork and Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp and Marc Bolan’s thirtieth Anniversary Present alongside Patti Smith, Tom Morello, Joan Jett and Ronnie Spector.
The concept of creating the band past simply dwell performances got here when Keanan met Fabio Fabbri at a lecture he was internet hosting at a school in Florence alongside Glen Matlock in 2017. Fabio – a multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and recording artist along with his personal presence on this planet of trend – and Keanan began sharing concepts and a co-writing partnership was born. From this and with a complete host of recent collaborations, Slinky Vagabond launched their debut album, King Boy Vandals in 2021, mixing their love of punk and rock with all that the person contributors have been in a position to carry to the occasion. And now, with Keanan’s success within the trend world permitting him to train his creative freedom on this planet of music and construct on this labour of affection, we get the discharge of their second album, The Everlasting Return, which additional expands on Keanan’s pool of collaborators infusing a good wider vary of influences into their sound.
Inside just some bars of opening music Girl Bump Discothèque we’re instantly engulfed by the sensation that we’re within the presence of one thing very particular certainly. As a paean to Kaenan’s early days frequenting the golf equipment of Doncaster, this works in spectacular trend and, along with his late interval Lennon model vocals sweeping by way of Bowie model melodies and Ava Cherry’s Beatles infused vocal harmonies, this can be a music which transports you again to a bygone period. Even Fabio’s scorching guitar solo has the spectre of Mick Ronson hovering overhead. Advert Astra follows in related trend with a robust air of sophistication as Mike Garson’s usually twinkling patterns on the keyboard gentle up the room in such an excellent means.
Icarus Falls has a much more foreboding sense as its thunderous rhythm and rock’n’roll vibe transports us by way of the stratosphere, seemingly following a considerably unsure path by way of the celebrities because it pays its because of the Greek mythological determine who little doubt impressed the movie of the identical title. With Keanon’s penchant for summary lyricism this shouldn’t be thought of untypical as this powerhouse music completely envelops the senses. In the meantime Curler Coaster Journey completely shifts gears as its brilliant melody and uplifting refrain strains take us proper again to the heyday of 90’s brit pop when Oasis actually did rule the roost.
If Appears May Kill is a burst of traditional indie rock underpinned by Christian Dryden’s strong drum patterns and in addition that includes Percy Jones on bass and Dom Beken on keyboards. Unusual World ventures into the world of the paranormal with lyrics influenced by a classic copy of Frank Edwards’ ebook Unusual World which describes unexplained incidents of premonition, UFO, sightings, apparitions, ghosts gentle, cloudless rain, miracle cures, blackouts, reincarnation and disappearances. With a sound that blends swathes of psychedelia with Latin rock, it as soon as once more demonstrates the breadth of the band’s collective influences.
Anthem exudes an actual sense of dramatic depth as this heartfelt and thought-provoking ballad unfolds with all the category that Bowie confirmed at his most majestic. Keanan’s impassioned vocals alongside Fabio’s heart-rending guitar solos and Mike Garson’s sympathetic keyboards add additional to the emotive really feel of the music. Earthman Go Dwelling drives together with a glam stomping rhythm, while the weaving melodic interplays inside I Can Fly as soon as once more forged a shadow again to the traditional Britpop period interspersed with psychedelic styling.
The swagger and laborious driving rhythm of Excellent World attracts out extra of their punk influences which isn’t shocking on condition that it was co-written with Glen Matlock courting again to an earlier collaboration in a band Keanan and Glen have been concerned with some 15 years or so in the past. Finish Of The Present closes the album in tremendous model because it merely radiates with superb melodies and uplifting refrain strains. This can be a music co-written with Earl Slick which lastly sees the sunshine of day having been within the band’s repertoire for some appreciable time.
By The Everlasting Return, Keanan and Fabio have created one other excellent assortment of songs which not solely wears their timeless influences very firmly on their sleeves however breathes with an actual honesty as their rhythmic explosions and melodic interplays transport us by way of so many musical genres. While clearly leaning on some traditional and important musical reference factors, Slinky Vagabond have created their very personal soundtrack for the twenty first century.
With Keanan on lead vocals all through and Fabio recording all of the guitar elements, together with lots of the bass and keyboard sections, they continue to be the core focus of the band. However while Keanan’s trend profession stays centre stage, along with his present involvement in creating instructional content material for the College of Southern California’s Iovine and Younger Academy, there is no such thing as a doubt that he nonetheless has the bug to play dwell. This was proved final summer time when he was invited to be a part of the David Bowie Fan Conference in Liverpool the place he carried out with the home band The Bowie Contingent at St Georges Corridor in Liverpool. As such Slinky Vagabond are already trying to come collectively as a dwell band and play some exhibits in New York by way of the help of drummer Christian Dryden, founding father of a younger New York band The Ritualists, so that’s undoubtedly one thing to look out for in 2025.
You should purchase the album right here.
You could find Slinky Vagabond on Instagram, X (Twitter), Bandcamp and their web site.
Take heed to Keanan Duffy in dialog with Iain Key right here
All phrases by Ian Corbridge. You could find extra of his writing at his writer profile right here.
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