Cyclist delivers a welcome slice of lo-fi garage rock on ‘the wreck’
Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a really polished pop song with sparkling production, but when it comes down to a good lo-fi recording of a guitar song, you just can’t beat the raw power it elicits. It has so much more feeling, more humanity. And it’s something we need more of.
As soon as you hit play on ‘the wreck’ by Leeds’ latest up-and-comer cyclist, there’s a surge of nostalgic brilliance that makes its way straight into your ears, and considering the fact that it doesn’t even reach a full two minutes, its distinctive riff practically hypnotises you into pressing repeat.
Cyclist is the latest project from Welsh multi-instrumentalist Ben Parry, who has spent the past decade playing in some of Leeds’ most exciting projects, including the denim-clad egg-punk quartet The Oidz, lo-fi shoegaze emo rockers Shaene, and, formerly, the noisy post-punk group Fuzz Lightyear.
Parry’s masterful guitar-playing is central to everything he is a part of, and on ‘the wreck’, his penchant for scuzzy garage-rock riffs collides with another passion of his – cassette recordings.
Immortalised by a four-track cassette recorder, the song, which marks his debut single as cyclist, brings to mind artists like Guided By Voices, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Clean. But that’s not to say that Parry has simply delivered a slice of DIY garage-rock that you’ll have trouble separating from other lo-fi acts.
There’s something special here. In such a short span of time, Parry delivers a track that feels so genuine and authentic, driven by a thick smattering of crunchy guitars, complete with a seamless poppy hook. It’s surely not easy to bring such emotional gravitas and instrumental depth to something so short, but Parry pulls it off with ease.
His choice to use a lo-fi recording technique subsequently works perfectly, harnessing an unprocessed and beautifully rough sound that gives the track much more of an impact as opposed to if it were captured in a shiny studio setting. This sounds like it has come straight from a basement or a bedroom, in turn providing a sense of charm and honesty that is so often missing these days.
Parry’s new project is only further proof of Leeds’ current dominance in the UK scene. Released via local indie label Esco Romanesco, the track comes following recent releases across the city from the likes of electro-punk outfit Bathing Suits, folk singer Rhiannon Hope (both via Private Regcords), and retro-inspired rockers Vehicle (via Esco Romanesco).
Parry finds a welcome place in the scene as cyclist, harnessing the fuzzy tape-recorded sound that seems increasingly harder to come by. ‘the wreck’ is easy to soak up. Parry’s voice sounds like a distant memory, yet one that you want to carry with you in your pocket, a hazy photographic glimpse of a brighter future – one ruled by DIY sensibilities and real, raw musicianship.
In a way, it’s political – a cry against bland, polished recordings of inoffensive guitar music that do nothing. Parry’s approach reflects the importance of giving in to your most honest creative impulses and rebelling against mainstream rock convention through an embrace of utter DIY craftsmanship.
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