It has been six years since Sacred Paws released their second album, Run Around the Sun, a masterful LP full of melodic Afropop guitar lines, frenetic drumbeats, and angular vocal harmonies from long-time collaborators Ray Aggs and Eilidh Rodgers. Their latest effort, Jump into Life (out March 28th via Merge Records) picks up where the Glasgow/London duo left off, delivering a tight half-hour of intricate arrangements and distinctive melodies that linger long after listening.
There’s a lot to love in these eleven tracks, many of which clock in well under three minutes. While Sacred Paws’ prior releases occasionally lean into the abrasive and driven textures of post-punk, Jump into Life is remarkably lush and expansive, and I was immediately drawn to the inclusion of a wider range of instruments in tracks like “Another Day”, which contrasts cascading layers of electric guitar with the folksy resonance of banjo and violin. Other tracks like closer “Draw A Line” integrate trumpets as well as effected layers of sound to create undulating textures underneath jaunty melodies.
Fans of Aggs and Rodgers’ earlier band Golden Grrrls might be surprised at the hi-fi stylings of Jump Into Life, but every bit of that garage pop project’s melodic charm (and more) is rendered here in glorious technicolour. Even better, while Golden Grrrls clearly drew heavy influence from 80s and 90s indie pop acts signed to labels like Sarah or K Records, Sacred Paws seem to be less direct in their musical references. The early post-punk and indie pop roots are still present, but the busy drums and stacked layers of clean, angular guitars could easily spark comparisons to Maps & Atlases, early Vampire Weekend, or even Bloc Party. It is the combination of Aggs and Rodgers’ voices in these arrangements, however, that push Sacred Paws outside of the realm of easy comparison. While the opening riff of “Turn Me Down” is straight early-2000s indie guitar rock, by the time the chorus comes around, the tight vocal harmonies signal that Sacred Paws aren’t simply reproducing an established formula—they’re making something wholly idiosyncratic and immensely appealing.
What’s most notable about Jump Into Life isn’t a specific track or line but rather the cumulative effect of this extremely cohesive set of songs. The lead singles “Another Day” and “Turn Me Down” give a good sample of what Sacred Paws are up to, but this album rewards deeper engagement—over repeated listens, I have found myself noticing more and more striking moments. If six years is what it took to get to this album, then that was time well-spent, and I’ll be marking my calendar for the next sexennial release from Aggs and Rodgers. It’s clear from this set of songs that Sacred Paws are worth the wait.
Jump Into Life is out today on CD, LP, digital, and streaming via Merge Records.
SACRED PAWS Socials: Facebook | Instagram | Website
Review by Alex Evans
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List