Lionhall are a band that focuses on the minimal. The sound of the Newcastle-based Scottish duo centres firmly on subtle drum beats mixed with occasional twangs of guitar and bleeps of electro.
This kind of music has been made fashionable by The xx, and is a difficult thing to execute well. However, Lionhall’s debut EP is a clear example of a band executing the style positively.
‘Perfect’ illustrates clearly the fragility of relationships with haunting vocals the smoulder beautifully throughout the entire track.
‘Catch A Light’ offers a more upbeat track that bounces through soft drums and chiming keys in a brilliant mix. From this track it is easy to draw a line linking Lionhall to the one time Mercury Prize winners, as this track seems to show what The xx would sound like if they had a clear Scottish twang in their vocals. However, it’s catchy and leaves the listener wanting to hear a lot more from the promising band.
