Two years on from their widely acclaimed debut album (which came out via Django Django/The Phantom Band’s now-defunct Bonjour Branch label), Edinburgh trio Snide Rhythms are back with a second long-player, 2nd Difficult Album. Very much the second chapter in this experimental Scottish band’s “post-punk-meets-electronic-dub-wave” affair, in an equally ironic twist, 2nd Difficult Album actually isn’t as difficult as their first album, a play on the popular idea of the ‘difficult second album’.
But, hey, that’s Snide Rhythms through and through: subverting norms and flipping two-fingered salutes to hackneyed memes and other clichés. Their louche style glances back as much as it looks forward, refusing to tread water for too long, partly out of design but partly out of the simple fact that, bar front-man and ‘reluctant leader’ Colvin Cruickshank, the line-up has completely changed. As such, 2nd Difficult Album sounds every bit like a bold new statement from a confident, restlessly creative group, who only make very selective sorties to perform live but are nonetheless gaining ground among those in-the-know in Scotland.
Produced once again by the band with Alex Fenton (joined by William MacConnachie) at Swanfield Studios in Edinburgh over the course of the last year, ‘2nd Difficult Album’ features the band’s previous single, Greyed Out & Muted(which was released on Container Drivers & Russian Winter’s In The Container Tonight Vol. 2 compilation), the original version of Ginger Baker In Africa (originally an out-take from the first album that ended up on the shelf until a euphoric remix by globe-trotting Glaswegian DJ/producer Auntie Flo breathed dancefloor life into it and won the band new fans all over the world via Edinburgh’s up-and-coming Hobbes Music label).
Snide Rhythms are Colvin Cruickshank aka ‘The Reluctant Leader’ (Lyrics, Vocals, Ideas, Synths, Bibs & Bobs), Olly Ridgewell aka ‘The Son of Portslade’ (Bass, Guitar, Keys, Positive Vibrations & Tangents), Sam Stokes (Drums & Tattoos). They have previously supported Django Django, Field Music, Las Kellies, Riel, as well as headlining their own shows around Edinburgh.
Snide Rhythms release new album ‘2nd Difficult Album’ as a download and limited edition cassette via new label False Promise on Monday 10th November 2014.
CRITICAL PRAISE
“Great stuff” (Rob Da Bank, BBC Radio One/Bestival/Sunday Best)
“A really interesting, innovative album” (Ally McCrae, ‘BBC Introducing’ – Radio One)
“On my radar for play” (Jim Gellatly, Clyde One/The Sun/Amazing Radio – now XFM)
“It’s no surprise that a record label run by members of Django Django and The Phantom Band should be capable of sniffing out an interesting band at a hundred paces” 4 stars (The Scotsman)
“It might not be everyone’s idea of a fun time but i like it a lot” (Fiona Shepherd on Tom Morton’s show, BBC Radio Scotland)
“Sounding oh so very now… an off-kilter quirkiness bordering on brilliance… 4 stars” (The List)
“With a distinctly original and precocious sound, Snide Rhythms look set to take the next step towards musical stardom” 4.5 stars (Is This Music?)
“A joy to the ears, a delight for the feet and a treat you can gorge yourself on: 4 stars” (17 Seconds)
“Post-punk meets electro on exciting debut… an innovative and imaginative record” (The Sound Project)
