Without wanting to resort to clichés, like the cover of Shambolics’ debut album, life is messy. Formed in Kirkcaldy – a town in Fife, about an hour north of Edinburgh – the band’s fluid line-up is centered around Darren Forbes and Lewis McDonald, but such is the hand to mouth exstence of musicians these days, the other players who worked on it have all subsequently left for real world jobs.
It’s another cliché, but the record’s title pretty much says what you get on it’s tin; Forbes and McDonald met as teenagers on a housing estate and the characters and experiences which fill the vibrant songs here sound like they’re as real as anything. Observed from the pavements and concrete, there are cautionary tales of drifting lives (Everything You Should’ve Done) and the doom loop of those consequences (Filth & Scum).
Whilst the occasional bleakness is that of a documentarian, Shambolics’ retro-indie style is indebted in part to Dundonians The View – Kyle Falconer appears on the jangling Attention – with the sonic stramash of If You Want It having a classic up-for-it rake. Even though the quintet have the endorsment of veteran Alan McGee behind them this thing isn’t easy though, problems Forbes is happy to share on Universal Credit, although he knows that’s just the way it is. Dreams, Schemes And Young Teams has energy and grit, even if it occasionally falls into mid-00’s indie rote. Without wanting to resort to clichés, you sense however that the Shambolics will be happy to try, try and try again.
You can read a full review here.
The Voice Of Unreason 