Lord Auch – To The Shithouse EP

Lord Auch

A few years ago those in the infamous Leeds music “scene” were all buzzing about one band in particular. Their dark, post-punk sound and energetic yet unruly gigs meant their name was on just about everyone’s lips. One fellow Leeds band even wrote a song documenting one of those infamous nights, indeed, riots were predicted. Their name? Black Wire. Sadly, Black Wire disbanded in 2007, but fear not, from their ashes rise a whole new beast. Former members Si McCabe and Danny Prescott moved on to form Lord Auch. Alongside Liam Wade, Stelios Kurunis and Nicholas Jones they release the delightfully titled ‘To The Shithouse EP’.

Opening song ‘Sappho and Double Skin’ sets the tone for what is to come throughout the rest of the E.P. It’s dark, foreboding and at times rather unsettling. Indeed, it’s all dark imagery and obscure lyrics (“my nurse is called Lynda/and she makes me numb/and the story of who can give me a little girl”). Si’s deep, and at times, strained voice means you never quite feel comfortable listening, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it however. Strangely enough, at times this song reminds me of Paul Simon’s Graceland album. That is if Graceland were to don a pair of tight jeans, a cape, and stalk alleyways in the dead of the night with Nick Cave, and a mariachi band.

In contrast to the busy, hectic opener, the second track, ‘Drunkards Rigadoon’ is rather a sparse, but no less sinister affair. The opening minute or so of dark, moody keyboards and drums again creates a sense of foreboding and gloom. By the time the chant like lyrics of “We are damned, we are doomed/meet before Rigadoon/where the lights are low/where the drunkards go” kick in, it almost feels like they’re trying to goad you into joining them in a life of damned, doomed drunken failure as they stumble down that alleyway. Which, to be honest, is hard to turn down. Together with the bleak sounding keyboards and the atmospheric guitar, they create that menacing feel is which is present throughout the EP.

The title tack and closer is a funkier, more bass driven song. As Si declares “let’s have a fight” you get the feeling that any night with these would end that way. The female vocals that follow as the song develops only add to the haunting, macabre feel that is certainly present here. Black Wire may have died, but their ghost is most definitely here.

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