Following on from their album “Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath”, Manchester band The Blinders release the first part of their two-part EP, “Electric Kool-Aid“. The EP is the band’s first release since becoming a quintet, broadening their instrumentation with the addition of second guitarist Eoghan Clifford, Johnny James on keys and Thomas Castrey on drums.
Title track “Electric Kool-Aid“, opens the EP, standing at just over a minute long. Short yet sweet, the opener reintroduces listeners to the iconic tones of vocalist Thomas Haywood’s guitar that work in harmony with Charlie McGough’s bass before ambient vocals kick in to repeat the EP’s title.
“Barefoot Across Your Water” follows, spotlighting Johnny James’ skills on keys. A romantic, sincere number, the track sees five piece brings something new to the table – showcasing each member’s talents and how they work blissfully with Thomas Haywood’s vocals that propel the track forward.
Next follows the EP’s lead single, “City We Call Love“. Now a key part of the band’s live shows, since being debuted on tour last August, this track holds stunning metaphors about the links between a city and the feeling of love, whilst pairing them with strong, menacing instrumentation to build what remains to be a stand out number on “Electric Kool-Aid (Part I)”.
A track that was left off of the band’s second album, “Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath”. Now given its time to shine, The Writer is given a new lease of life within “Electric Kool-Aid (Part I)”, filled with intensity and political frustration, before calming slightly for its middle and bursting into life once again.
Last not least, “I Hate To See You Tortured”, sees the band wear their hearts on their sleeves. Showing immense control and passion with an anthemic chorus, with this track The Blinders prove that sometimes change can be for the better. Featuring what could be some of Thomas Haywood’s strongest lyrics to date – “I Hate To See You Tortured “closes the EP perfectly.
Electric Kool-Aid (Pt. 1) is EP will now come on January 21st..
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