aaamusic | On 28, Oct 2012

We’ve heard the angsty urban poetics and snarling jangle of indie; that seems to be evermore a fading memory as its brighter, jeering cousin comes increasingly to prominence, all sunbeams and smiles. Following the trend set by bands such as Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, Mumford and Sons, The Vaccines and Bombay Bicycle Club, up-and-coming group Shout Timber throw their own voice out for us with their new single East India Trading Company. And if the mention of any of the above bands sees your ears pricking, then you’re in luck, there’s a lot to like here.
Formed against the eclectic academic backdrop of University College London, the quartet recently embarked on a journey through India, which apparently was quite a colourful trip, as one can imagine. This journey became the genesis for the new track, as the band attempted to capture the irrepressible cultural energy that they experienced.
This was a very good idea for a song, and this is evident from the second you press play; the collage of sound, from the rhythmic metallic clanging of pots and pans to the cawing of party-ready fowl, you can immediately see the sunshine and feel the heat, encapsulating a fantastic escapist reverie for us recently autumn-weathered British. The whole track is alive with verisimilitude, the chirpy guitar and layered whoahing vocal harmonies weave together such a vivid picture, and the band do a brilliant job of recreating the feeling of eastern culture and community, before hitting a downright mental bridge-section that threatens to break up the audio completely. And it rolls on into a fade out just as it faded in, fittingly creating a dream-like crystalline image of India, isolated in one erupting, dynamic moment.
With its catchy sing-a-long chorus and bounding brightness, the track is just damn fun. With the energy and aural smile of other big bands that have been so well received recently, the band also presents a real vision for a synergy of music and image which you really don’t see very often. Get these guys on a festival stage next summer. I want to hear an open air crowd chanting along to this.

★★★★★

Matt Fellows