Much like an aged single malt, The Scottish Enlightenment are a smooth yet potentially explosive proposition. Having recently sold out their excellent EP ‘Pascal’ they keep the momentum going with their new release, entitled ‘Little Sleep’.
The title track of the EP is a heady mix of soaring guitars and a beautifully fractured chorus. David Moyes delicate vocal sounds dreamlike, far removed from the Arab Strap-esque guitar which holds an impressive intricacy within its heady scope.
‘Get My Limousine’ is a more straightforward affair and dangerously close to an all out pop song. It’s very much within the walls of King Creosote’s territory and sees Moyes decide to ‘write songs like Stephen Malkmus’. It’s a contrast to the following ‘Drip Feed’, an elegantly simplistic piano led affair.
As a five track EP, ‘Little Sleep’ is slightly flawed. Had it finished on fourth track ‘When You Hate Me’ with its wintry 3am sonic drizzle it would have been very much close to perfection.
Sadly ‘St Germain Is Thick Tonight’ feels very much tacked on, the acoustic melancholy not quite slotting in with the elaborate nature of what has preceded it. But then again, what good evening of fine Scotch whisky hasn’t been followed by an uncomfortable morning?