Goldteeth - EP
I stumbled across Goldteeth the self titled EP from Sheffield born Andy Nicholson a few months back while in a drunken Youtube hole late on a Friday night (we've all been there!)
If that name rings a bell it's because Nicholson was a founding member of Arctic Monkeys. You know that band who burst onto the scene in 06' with their shakespearean-eque lyrics and tight Fred Perry polos. Long story short Nicholson left the band after their debut album and a few EP's and was replaced by Nick O'Malley. After leaving AM he started to make a name for himself on the Sheffield DJ circuit (I stole that from his wiki page) before in 08' forming the band Mongrel who i've semi heard of. They're pretty much a Sheffield born supergroup with a couple of add ons. Jon McClure AKA The Rev from Reverend & The Makers fronted the band. Matt Helders his old mate from AM was there plus Drew McConnell the Babyshambles bassist. Lowkey a rapper from the Poisionous Poets completed the group. If you're interested YouTube Mongrel - The Menace which was their first record.
Mongrel never really took off or perhaps the group decided not to pursue it, who knows but in the years to follow Nicholson joined Rev & The Makers as a permenent member and also had a few other projects going on noteably with Joe Carnall who seems to mix in the same circuits. Carnalls latest project Good Cop Bad Cop is worth a mention. I believe Matt Helders produced and it's a album full of variety and well worth a listen. The Steel City certainly has some talent up there!
On to the tunes.
This really is a solo effort from Nicholson. Speaking to NME just after the EP release he talks about deciding to do everything himself. From the writing and producing to the artwork and mixing - all him. Vocals for the whole record are delivered by Hannah Yadi who's voice really does lend itself excellently to the RnB vibe of the opening number Start Again. With a funky bass dropping in the chorus this reminds me of Mac Millers What's the Use? but maybe not as heavy. The opener is definatly a easy listening relaxed pour me another rum type of tune.
Doin Better is my stand out track. We've got soul, we've got jazzy guitars and that bass is still stomping away subtly but just enough to give us that rhythm. Although the lyrics suggest a break up or parting of ways this 100% is a feel good song. Light at the end of the tunnel kinda thing and Nicholsons instrumental really brings those feelings out in this track which is a hard thing to do.
The record takes a darker turn from here on. Perhaps the track names Thunder, Hand of God and Crucify give us a idea of whats coming. Don't get me wrong the pace of the music feels the same, we've still got heavy instrumentals with your bassy soul vibes but these last three tracks just haven't got the spark the openers have. Hand of Gods chorus has got something about it with drums and heavy symbols but for me the real stompers of this EP are the opening two tracks.
All in all this record is a exciting appetizer from a clearly very talent guy. A new track Thinking has been dropped over the last month or so and it's well worth a listen. Hopefully there's potential for a album and some gigs because if anything Goldteeth has shown experimentation and pushing boundaries works. When i found out he used to be a part of AM i was expecting a indie EP. What he's served up here is totally refreshing and makes me excited for future projects...
Goldteeth EP: Vocals Hannah Yadi
Start Again
Doin Better
THE THUNDER
Hand of God
Crucify
If that name rings a bell it's because Nicholson was a founding member of Arctic Monkeys. You know that band who burst onto the scene in 06' with their shakespearean-eque lyrics and tight Fred Perry polos. Long story short Nicholson left the band after their debut album and a few EP's and was replaced by Nick O'Malley. After leaving AM he started to make a name for himself on the Sheffield DJ circuit (I stole that from his wiki page) before in 08' forming the band Mongrel who i've semi heard of. They're pretty much a Sheffield born supergroup with a couple of add ons. Jon McClure AKA The Rev from Reverend & The Makers fronted the band. Matt Helders his old mate from AM was there plus Drew McConnell the Babyshambles bassist. Lowkey a rapper from the Poisionous Poets completed the group. If you're interested YouTube Mongrel - The Menace which was their first record.
Mongrel never really took off or perhaps the group decided not to pursue it, who knows but in the years to follow Nicholson joined Rev & The Makers as a permenent member and also had a few other projects going on noteably with Joe Carnall who seems to mix in the same circuits. Carnalls latest project Good Cop Bad Cop is worth a mention. I believe Matt Helders produced and it's a album full of variety and well worth a listen. The Steel City certainly has some talent up there!
On to the tunes.
This really is a solo effort from Nicholson. Speaking to NME just after the EP release he talks about deciding to do everything himself. From the writing and producing to the artwork and mixing - all him. Vocals for the whole record are delivered by Hannah Yadi who's voice really does lend itself excellently to the RnB vibe of the opening number Start Again. With a funky bass dropping in the chorus this reminds me of Mac Millers What's the Use? but maybe not as heavy. The opener is definatly a easy listening relaxed pour me another rum type of tune.
Doin Better is my stand out track. We've got soul, we've got jazzy guitars and that bass is still stomping away subtly but just enough to give us that rhythm. Although the lyrics suggest a break up or parting of ways this 100% is a feel good song. Light at the end of the tunnel kinda thing and Nicholsons instrumental really brings those feelings out in this track which is a hard thing to do.
The record takes a darker turn from here on. Perhaps the track names Thunder, Hand of God and Crucify give us a idea of whats coming. Don't get me wrong the pace of the music feels the same, we've still got heavy instrumentals with your bassy soul vibes but these last three tracks just haven't got the spark the openers have. Hand of Gods chorus has got something about it with drums and heavy symbols but for me the real stompers of this EP are the opening two tracks.
All in all this record is a exciting appetizer from a clearly very talent guy. A new track Thinking has been dropped over the last month or so and it's well worth a listen. Hopefully there's potential for a album and some gigs because if anything Goldteeth has shown experimentation and pushing boundaries works. When i found out he used to be a part of AM i was expecting a indie EP. What he's served up here is totally refreshing and makes me excited for future projects...
Goldteeth EP: Vocals Hannah Yadi
Start Again
Doin Better
THE THUNDER
Hand of God
Crucify
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