High Coast
Album: High Coast
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.facebook.com/highcoastofficial

If there is a European region that has fought its way into my consciousness in the last few years, it's Scandinavia. I've always been aware and entertained by the traditional musicians from the region, mainly because of their collaborations with Scottish musicians and, lately, more and more with English ones, but I've also been made more aware of the bands and solo artists delivering in other genres.

Sweden's High Coast are the latest band from the region to have made contact, via their new four track, self titled EP. Performed in English and in an acoustic rock vein, the release shows a band that have a strong sense of melody and a poetic touch to their lyric. They are also a band that are aware of what is going on in the wider world and its impact.

The second track on the ep, "Fukushima" is a good example of that. The song makes a really strong statement as to how something that looks like it might be a local tragedy, can easily become something that impacts us all, both physically and spiritually and that there are lots of times in our lives where we need to pull together because there are things that we can't always solve on our own.

Whilst the use of birdsong on songs is nothing new, I really like the way they combine it with instrumentation on "Young Sparrow" where they manage to avoid it sound twee. It's a good song, focusing on the point in a sparrows life where it's fledged, but isn't sure if it's ready to make its own way in the world.

High Coast have certainly caught my imagination. They are definitely a band I'd like to hear more off and who knows maybe catch live if they manage to get over to these shores, in the meantime, I'll content myself with what I've got.

One small thing though lads, put your name on the sleeve

Neil King