Salient Braves - Guilty Until Proven Innocent

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 8 / 2 / 2017

Label: Broken Down Records
Format: CDS

intro

Enjoyable second EP within a year from up-and-coming Barnsley-based indie pop band the Salient Braves

2016 was a busy year for Matt Bailey and his cohorts in te Salient Braves as, having not released anything since 2013’s excellent debut 'Somewhere Sordid', they unveiled two perfectly formed and equally enjoyable EPs on Broken Down Records. The tried and tested formula that worked so well on their debut, thankfully, hasn’t been overly tinkered with; the same faithful signposts of the Bitter Springs and Animals That Swim remain in place and Bailey’s ability to wrap a catchy melody around intelligent lyrics is undiminished. On the more recent EP and the title track 'Guilty Until Proven Innocent', some nice brass is added to the instrumentation, while Dani provides some cool female backing vocals on 'My Alter Ego'. There’s more than a hint of Paul Heaton in the vocals on 'Boys’ Night Out' and 'Cynical Old Bastard', which is only a good thing. The excellent Charlie Tipper Experiment spring to mind on 'The Great Unwashed' from the earlier EP, 'They Must Have Seen Me Coming' and Bailey has a deserved dig at reality talent shows on 'X-Factor Shooting Spree'. The cover version of REM classic 'Losing My Religion' that also appears on the EP is on point, but it is the wonderful title track that is the real highlight. Hunt down the CD versions of these EPs before they sell out and you’ll get a nice football sticker with each, too.

Track Listing:-

Band Links:-