Polyhymns (great name) are a new group from Sheffield. ‘Down With The Kids’ is the band’s latest track and it has been getting a great reception this year.
Officially released on 1st June, early plays have garnered interest from BBC Introducing’s Fresh On The Net website and has also been getting airplay in Germany, Canada and the USA. According to the band, ‘Down With The Kids’ is a song about parenthood and isolation in the digital-age and has particular pertinence at the moment with parents home-schooling during the pandemic.
Formed in 2019 in Sheffield, Polyhymns comprises of Andrew Bolam, Gavin Harris and Sam Smith. They previously worked together in folktronica group Little Glitches, who were championed by Lauren Laverne and Shaun Keaveny, and received remixes from Morcheeba and Fila Brazilia.
So what is the track like? Well the gorgeous chord changes and gentle vocals have a real Neil Young vibe, yet it’s also slightly psychedelic and dreamy in a ‘Wish You Were Here’ era Pink Floyd way. The bass is nice and throbs and propels the track and keeps it on an even keel. Keyboards come in to fore halfway through which compliments the guitar perfectly.
The final third and the repetitive use of the title and the instrumentation that goes along with it really has a Smog/Bill Callahan feel which I love.
I think this track is a real grower and is deserving of the plaudits it has already received. It also serves as an interesting introduction to this new side of Polyhymns which previously had a more experimental electronica bent. Having said that, if you listen to their back catalogue, then this blissed out 3.30 feels like a natural progression. It’ll be really interesting to hear an EP or LP from this lot in the future. I approve.
Due to the lockdown the group are currently interested in online collaborations with artists and are particularly keen to work with video/film makers. Anyone interested can contact: polyhymnsmusic@gmail.com.
Review by Ioan Humphreys
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