Spindrift EP is Dead On

STEVE ROBERTSON checks out the recording debut of an award winning Inverness band
 

SPINDRIFT, one of the top bands in the Highlands, have released their first self titled EP, recorded over three sessions at The Byre studio near Inverness. The recording was part of their prize for winning the Inverness Battle of the Bands last summer at Mad Hatters, a victory that also brought them the chance to open up last year’s inaugural Tartan Heart Festival at Belladrum.

After completing the music at The Byre studio, the band went to Unity studios and finished the vocals/overdubs along with the mixing and mastering process. The disc has lush production of a high standard, as shown in opening track, ‘Dead on Arrival’ featuring unique samples of laughter and even other Spindrift songs.

Speaking about the track, singer Colin Fraser had this to say: “Its about being paranoid. I suppose we got the idea for the start of ‘Dead on Arrival’ from Morrisey’s ‘Piccadily Palare’. We added it at the very last minute because we thought the intro needed something else.”

“When the EP first became available in the Inverness branches of HMV and MVC, it quickly sold out” 

The EP features quite a range of styles, and could be described as the Mods and Rockers coming together. “In the Sun” is another stand-out track. Colin explained the meaning behind the track: “It’s about what I would imagine it is to be always in the spotlight.”

It is also the only track that was partially recorded outside of the studio, as Colin explains further: “We couldn’t get the vocal sound right for it, so I recorded them at home and took them back to the studio to be mixed in with the music.”

When asked what was his favourite track was, Colin had this to say: “I like all the songs on the EP – personally, my favourite to play live is ‘My Favourite Thing About Jane’, a song about having a girlfriend who loves going out and getting out of it with the boys – it always gets the crowd going.”

When the EP first became available in the Inverness branches of HMV and MVC, it quickly sold out, and has since had to be reordered. It can also be bought through the band’s website.
 

You can catch at Spindrift at the following dates:

• Mosset Tavern, Forres, Friday 20 May 2005
• Mad Hatters, Inverness, Friday 27 May 2005
• Triple Kirks, Aberdeen, Thursday 1 June 2005 (as part of the GoNorth Festival)
• Keith Chaos Festival, Friday 18 June 2005.

© Steve Robertson, 2005