Childhood – ‘Pinballs’
After touring with Palma Violets, one of the hottest bands of 2013, the South London sucklers of the blessed reverb teat are yet again proving why Childhood is the band everyone is talking about with this perfectly produced track from Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground project. ‘Pinballs’ is released on January 13th, and it’s our Track Of The Day.
As ever, Speedy Wunderground’s ethos is clear: bands have 24 hours to create, lay down, and produce a track. A tough task, right? Well, no, it doesn’t seem so, as Dan Carey keeps on pulling out gem after gem with artists such as Toy, Natasha Kahn, and The Archie Bronson Outfit, to name a few.
With the aforementioned ethos, he has the ability to not only pull acts out of their comfort zone but also focus on that nervous energy and carbonise it until the ashes of a 24-hour recording session turn into diamonds. ‘Pinballs’ is no different. It has the same reverb vocals and laconic style of Childhood but intensified and magnified.
There is a gentle hum to this track that propels it along its course like an urbanised steam train, full of energy, yes, but subtler energy, full of burning passion and drawling ferocity administered in powerful punches and then recouped and readied for the next sardonic attack of the jangling guitar.
That is until around the four-minute mark when everything starts to go a bit off the wall, as the guitar seems to reverse over itself and become an altogether new sound, embracing synths and other digital delights to create a cacophony of producing perfection, until it again settles down to its lazy summer beat. Childhood seem perfectly directed on this track. They have enough talent and self-assurance to create a fantastic track and enough nouse to let Dan Carey do what he pleases with it.
This vibe continues in Dan Kendall’s directed video. Shot while on tour with Palma Violets and portraying all the nuances one would hope to encounter on tour – namely, women, wine and guitars. It has the charm of a grounded band happy to be doing what makes them happy, which is a refreshing change from the righteous rock stars that seem to be concerned with the preservation of music (as well as their bank balance). Childhood seem happy enough just making music, and why shouldn’t they? It’s great.
Check out the track below.
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