Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs
(Bandcamp)
LP | DL
Out now
Buy Breadcrumbs
Everyday mundanities morph into surrealism on this impressive debut album from the North Tyneside-based quartet.
A much-loved act on the lively North Tyneside coastal music scene, Breadcrumbs fly the flag for old-school indie idiosyncrasy of the type once championed by the late BBC DJ, John Peel. Album opener Breadcrumbs is a short, sharp nerd-punk anthem, followed rapidly by the churning, bass-driven Subject The Change To What. Two songs in and the initial impression is of cult ’80s oddballs Bogshed, relocated to Whitley Bay. Counterintuition Counter evokes Brix Smith-era Fall with its steely guitar riff and singalong melody. Perhaps the most distinctive element is frontman Andy Neill’s witty and whimsical lyrics, which bring to mind another key ’80s indie touchstone – Half Man, Half Biscuit. Conversely, one of the album’s most cathartic tracks is Uncool, featuring a grand total of three words: “I’m so uncool”; underpinning Neill’s frenzied vocal, Geoff Suggatt’s clever drum patterns and Bill Waugh’s supple bass provide an off-kilter propulsion with more than a hint of Captain Beefheart, enhanced by Dave Burton’s frantic, scrabbling guitarwork. There’s something liberating about the sense of awkwardness so eloquently conveyed in under a minute on this oddly catchy blast of nervous energy.
CAPSLOCK is another highlight, combining a rather lovely, folky melody with funny, observational lyrics that encapsulate the sense of quiet desperation marbled through Neill’s lyrics. Elsewhere, Scooter Baby marries a gorgeous tune to droll lyrics, while the potty-mouthed Hey (Grown Up) again touches on the theme of middle-aged entropy, cleverly delivered in a humourous manner. This is one of Breadcrumbs’ key strengths – the ability to explore the challenges of middle-age while avoiding the potential pitfalls of being dull and worthy.
The rather epic closing track Taxibooker finds poignancy in a Saturday night/Sunday morning taxi-hunt, again returning to the theme of gently unravelling desperation, leavened by Neill’s trademark wit, bringing the curtain down on an album that deftly mixes humour with acute observations of everyday life. Why BBC Radio 6Music hasn’t yet followed the Breadcrumbs trail is somewhat of a mystery; discerning listeners looking for old-school indie clamour without the sometimes patronising polemics of IDLES will find much to love here.
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Breadcrumbs are on Facebook and Bandcamp.
Cover art by Graham.
All words by Gus Ironside, 2024. More writing by Gus can be found here.
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