White Belt Yellow Tag - Tell Your Friends (It All Worked Out)

  by Adrian Huggins

published: 13 / 8 / 2009

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Review

Newcastle-based two piece White Belt Yellow Tag consists of Craig Pilbin on guitars and vocals and former Yourcodenameis:milo member Justin Lockey on drums and general studio work. The original concept behind White Belt Yellow Tag was that Pilbin would take time off from his other band Left at Montreal to write some of his own material and then bring it to Lockey to have a play with. The pair, therefore, worked together as a two piece rather than a producer and writer and the result is nothing short of fantastic. A lot less chaotic but just as inventive as Lockey’s previous band the music is adventurous, but perfectly listenable and very easy to get into. Not quite as instantly catchy as the band's debut single ‘You’re Not Invincible’, ‘Tell All Your Friends (It All Worked Out)’ is a slab of mature sounding and innovative indie that recalls the work of Doves, Athlete and a youthful Elbow. Their sound is incredible and there was clearly a lot of work put into the production of the songs. The overall feel is spectacular and the fact that there’s only two of them creating this music nothing short of mind blowing. Veering between electric guitar and effects and a thumping, echoing drumming, 'Tell All Your Freinds (It All Worked Out)' hinges on break downs which fade to a much quieter acoustic guitar sound. The effects and layers of backing vocals and guitars then crash back in, really making their sound unique and all consuming. B-side, ‘146 Ways’, is another experimental masterpiece. It seems a lot more simple on the surface with its combination of vocals, acoustic guitar and what at first sounds like a really simple drum loop. The song quickly reveals that it has lot more to it as the pianos and electric guitars subtly creep in and before you know there is an absolute bombardment of sounds very much in the vein of Radiohead. Currently being touted in much of the music press this band deserve all the hype they get. With a sound, attitude and outlook that shames so many others in a similar situation I hope they get the sort of recognition they deserve. While so many band currently coming up seem to rely on their own hype and ego and pinching all their sounds and style from the 1980’s to get by, White Belt, Yellow Tag are a duo that are doing something unique and forward thinking and it’s a joy to hear.

Track Listing:-

1 Tell Your Friends (It All Worked Out)
2 146 Ways

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