She Drew the Gun - Memories of the Future

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 30 / 5 / 2016

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Review

2016 has kicked off with some wonderfully imaginative music, and this debut from songwriter Louisa Roach and her band She Drew the Gun proves to be no exception. The band from the Wirral side of the Mersey have recorded an exceptional debut album, ‘Memories of the Future’, which has been released on the Coral's James Skelly’s record label Skeleton Key. It is a dark but dreamy psych-pop venture that takes its inspiration from Roach’s life and imagination. Starting life as a solo project for Louisa’s songs, recordings and live shows at small venues around Liverpool, She Drew the Gun eventually evolved into a band. Some of the group’s recordings were picked up by local radio, and eventually found their way to Skelly, who the band have since been recording with. The line-up has changed somewhat. Guitarist Jack Turner became involved last year and as a three-piece, also featuring Sian Monaghan on drums, they recorded a live session at Maida Vale for Steve Lamacq on BBC introducing and promptly went on a month long tour supporting Fink around Europe. She Drew The Gun has grown in sound recently, also adding Jenni Kickhefer on keyboards and introducing a more electronic element to their melodic and hypnotic psychedelic pop. Lyrically this debut is outstanding. Roach has an incredible ability to draw from her own experiences and put it down in such a way that any poet would be pleased with it. ‘Memories of the Gun’ can only be described as a masterpiece of originality and frankness. Tracks such as ‘Since You Were Not Mine’, album starter ‘Where I End and You Begin’ and the exceptional ‘Poem’ and ‘Pit Pony’ are blatant examples of the poetry and lyrical content on show here. The evocative ‘Lullaby Be Mine’, which features violin and cello, has a wonderfully morose sound and is a complete compliment to the vocals of Roach, a sort of mix of Bat for Lashes with a little Lily Allen or Kate Nash thrown in. The starter is just sublime, having a celestial quality with its unique drones of guitar work. There is plenty else to admire too including some creepy organ on ‘Since You Were Not Mine’ but the highlight for me is the diverse styles and the clever lyrical content. Roach has something to say and also something to share. This could be one for my Top Ten at the end of the year. Just one problem though. How do they top this? Marvellous!

Track Listing:-

1 Where I End and You Begin
2 Since You Were Not Mine
3 If You Could See
4 Chains
5 Pebbles
6 What Will You Do
7 Poem
8 I Am Not Alone
9 Be Mine
10 Pit Pony
11 Or So I Thought

Band Links:-

http://www.shedrewthegun.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SheDrewTheGun
https://twitter.com/shedrewthegun
https://www.youtube.com/user/SheDrewTh
https://plus.google.com/+Shedrewthegun
https://shedrewthegun.bandcamp.com/

Label Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/SkeletonKeyRe
http://www.skeletonkeyrecords.com/