The Spinto Band’s Shy Pursuit [8.0]

I was first introduced to The Spinto Band (@spintoband) a number of years ago (six to be exact). During the first year of the now annual Great Escape festival in Brighton, I stumbled upon their early evening set. After witnessing the band’s mix of barnstorming live enthusiasm and infectiously adorable tunes, I was an instant believer, and their debut album, Nice and Nicely Done, became the soundtrack to my summer in 2006. While The Spinto Band gradually faded from sight over the next four years, their new release, Shy Pursuit, proves that they used this hiatus to up their game and sharpen a few integral corners.

On their newest release, The Spinto Band have toned down the cutesy/kitsch factor and mellowed out with a more musically focused approach to their sound. Not to say their music isn’t adorable, because it is — album opener “Cookie Falls” is proof enough.  Instead of simply working this one angle, though, they’re now incorporating new elements into the fold. For example “Muesli” has an afro-beat flavour, which pitches the group somewhere between Josh Rouse and Vampire Weekend. They also seem to be more experimental with their compositions, and most tracks on the album are broken up fantastically. With smooth transitions and clever little flourishes in both the instrumental and vocal department, there seems to be more flexibility and reach to The Spinto Band than before.

A large part of this shift can be heard in the album’s melodies and harmonies, which allow for a catchier vocal presence this time around. Track’s like “Jackhammer” slither into your brain and resonate with distinction, which is actually a fairly accurate way to describe what the album does as a whole. While the material is more moderated and understated than their previous release, they’ve created a much leaner and more distinct sound. With that metamorphosis comes an album that is fun yet substantial. They may have dropped off my radar over the last six years, but with this record, The Spinto Band have firmly re-established themselves. Welcome back guys. Its nice to have you here!