Single Review: COW - Notemakers
COW - Notemakers
There's an optimism in the air. A sense that life as we once knew it is beginning to return to some sense of normalcy. In the UK, Covid restrictions are tentatively being eased and the instruction to stay indoors to protect the NHS has been lifted. Shops are once again open and it's even possible to now go and have a beer, albeit outside a venue in limited groups. For me, it's meant the day job has now begun again and the majority of my time is no longer my own, by hey - nothing lasts forever.
Live music in a venue with other people may be a little bit further down the line, but anticipation for such events is certainly starting to grow. I last went to a gig early March 2020, just as things were beginning to get that much weirder; it's almost felt like we were destined to watch live music on screens forever more since then. There's so many bands that I've developed a rapport with in the last year, that seeing them live will very much be the next step in our budding relationship.
COW
One such band are COW, originally from North Wales, but now based in Liverpool. The band have developed over the last couple of years to a highly proficient outfit, garnering the attention of Getintothis and, as a result, gaining an impetus of gigs and buzz that made that move to the big city inevitable. The band paused last year for obvious reasons, but got back on track when our old friends at Mai 68 Records snapped them up - it seems like the perfect match.
'Notemakers' begins with a melancholic guitar riff that washes over you with an effortless aplomb. It's obvious at this point that that the foundations of the track are being laid to build it, as opposed to every card being laid on the table from the get go - with that in mind, it reminds me of the opening to 00s Cardiff band Los Campesinos! track 'We are Beautiful, We are Doomed', but it's just the first example that springs to mind.
Rhythm guitar and drums are quick to enter, imitating the original riff before falling away and allowing a sumptuous bassline to come to the fore. It adds a groove to the proceedings that wasn't entirely expected, but is more than welcome - I'd be happy for it to be isolated and to roll around in my head on it's own! The band have often been compared to Teenage Fanclub amongst many others, and it's probably the most coherent comparison at this point, with 'Bandwagonesque' the most likely source of inspiration.
The vocals of singer Kyle Lee have a feel of Bill Ryder Jones to them, but it's subtle nuances and it's a strong voice that enables the song to exhale. The lyrics to 'Notemakers' are based around the last words of famous musicians and writers, such as Kurt Cobain, Elliot Smith and Hunter .S. Thompson. Opening with Oh well, there there. The guilt and empathy I have for everyone - the space between these lines making it clear the implications these last words often have for other people.
The chorus is a noisier affair with the band and full throttle and Lee's vocals strained for added effect - I pray to a God I don't believe in. It's a simple line, but it encapsulates the state of mind of those taking their last breathes in a multitude of circumstances. Towards the end of the song the band battle it out with a tug of war of noise reminiscent of the more coherent moments on Pavement's 'Brighten the Corners' and it's a thrilling finale for a superbly arranged track.
There's a contradiction about 'Notemakers' that COW have managed to achieve; it feels both timeless and yet completely of it's time - an intelligent indie rock record that appeals to every palate on the spectrum - often several times in the same song. This is only the beginning.
COW have announced a number of live dates later in the year:
August 21st – Gullivers Manchester - Mai 68 Records Showcase
September 4th – Arts Club Liverpool - Supporting By The Sea
September 11th – Live Rooms Chester - Supporting By The Sea
Sept 24th Smithdown Road Festival Liverpool
Sep 25th – Northwich – Salty Dog
October 1st – Newport – Le Pub - With Campfire Social
October 21st – Late Lounge Rhyl - Supporting Maines
October 30th – The Castle Manchester – with Groan Room and Lossline.
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