London 3 piece CYMBALS release their debut album 'Unlearn' on Tough Love Records today. 'Unlearn' covers the first 10 songs ever written by the band, pressed up on a limited run of 300 vinyl, each sleeve is individually hand screen printed by artist Sinead Evans. The album is also available digitally.
The album was written and recorded by the band and mixed using the collective efforts of Rory Bratwell (formerly of Test Icicles, producer for Male Bonding, Cold Pumas, Veronica Falls, Teeth!!! etc.), James Yuill and Manchester electronic wunderkids D/R/U/G/S.
CYMBALS formed in London amidst the heat haze of summer 2010, directed by nothing but their excellent record collections and the vague intention to "not be boring". While guitarist Jack and keyboardist Dan had played in bands before, drummer Sean hadn’t seriously picked up a stick since winging grade-one snare drum aged 13. Inspired by Sean’s intuitive naivety, the trio were keen to avoid the familiar routes ploughed by other bands and set forth a working manifesto that saw them reject predictable bass guitars, minor chord progressions, drum fills and programming. Consciously playing against instinct, the band decided to ‘unlearn’ the ideas they’d explored in previous projects in an attempt to fulfil that initial vague intention, and the resulting sounds were fittingly scattershot and strangely artful.
Finding footholes in the joyful chaos of early-period Pavement, the smartness of every-period Talking Heads, and the euphoric repetition of house music, they gelled suddenly and somewhat unpredictably, ironically finding their own voice recording an ebullient cover of the former’s “Kennel District”. Heading into the studio with East London go-to-man de rigueur Rory Brattwell, they put to tape a few of their own songs and were subsequently offered a host of gigs, some of which they were lucky enough to be able to play.
Having released a few early songs and an assortment of sympathetic remixes via Bandcamp to not a little online attention, they retreated to the practice room where they wrote ten new songs, in between jamming the odd indulgent Whitney Houston cover (rumours of a reworking of her debut album from memory remain unsubstantiated). Those ten songs will see the light of day in spring 2011 as CYMBALS first album, released through Tough Love Records. The appropriately titled Unlearn was recorded over a series of months and mixed through the collective efforts of Rory Bratwell, Manchester’s D/R/U/G/S and James Yuill. Most importantly, Unlearn is a document of everything the band has written to date, mapping their development while also signalling where they may head next.
Check out the video for CYMBALS - Summer Escaping:
Upcoming CYMBALS Tour Dates:
May:
09 - The Shacklewell Arms, London
19 - The Lexington, London
20 - Tooting Tram & Social, London
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
CYMBALS formed in London amidst the heat haze of summer 2010, directed by nothing but their excellent record collections and the vague intention to "not be boring". While guitarist Jack and keyboardist Dan had played in bands before, drummer Sean hadn’t seriously picked up a stick since winging grade-one snare drum aged 13. Inspired by Sean’s intuitive naivety, the trio were keen to avoid the familiar routes ploughed by other bands and set forth a working manifesto that saw them reject predictable bass guitars, minor chord progressions, drum fills and programming. Consciously playing against instinct, the band decided to ‘unlearn’ the ideas they’d explored in previous projects in an attempt to fulfil that initial vague intention, and the resulting sounds were fittingly scattershot and strangely artful.
