CATFISH and The Bottlemen evoke everything that’s inspiring about guitar music right now, in the UK. With sharp riffs, banging choruses and lyrics that put you in mind of Arctic Monkey’s Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not; their debut release is a super-fierce explosion of really great indie rock.
Just six months ago they were on the dole and in the same year the band will see the release of their debut album The Balcony. But this has been anything but a whirlwind success story. Ever since he had access to the internet, frontman Van has been relentlessly contacting the entire world (it seems) via Facebook: Tenement TV even has the message from 2012 to prove it.
And it seems persistence pays off; especially if you have the tunes to back it up. Underage touring around the UK with fake ID in-hand might have resulted in unfinished educations, but with Jim Abbiss on the mixing desk for their first record and chart-topping singles already in the bag, dreary days dreaming of making it big now seem like a distant memory. Catfish And The Bottlemen are living the dream and this debut is a strong, riviting record to rival their idols.
With terrifically good tunes already regulars on the airwaves (‘Fallout’, ‘Kathleen’, ‘Cocoon’ to name a few), the band still have treats in store. Previously unheard tracks including the likes of ‘26’ and ‘Hourglass’ are just as infectious and exciting, all complete with their compelling adolescent charm seeping out of the lyrics.
“We write scruffy love songs,” says Van, and that’s exactly what ‘Hourglass’ is as he leads the vocals, gushing of his love for an older woman. It’s a definite standout on the record, raw and uncut complete with unedited chat before the track begins.
What sets Catfish aside from the recent wave of young indie stars – Palma Violets, Peace, Circa Waves – is this album. The lyrics and use of storytelling in the likes of ‘Homesick’ and ‘Kathleen’ create tracks that stick in your head and songs you can relate too. They evoke nostaligia in fans and encourage and inspire the younger generation that hard work pays, and good music talks.
Van says “he’s a test tube baby” and that’s why “nobody gets me” (Fallout). If there was ever an indication into what makes him different, an IVF success story could be it. But its also his love and passion for music and intuition that led him to find other great musicians. Catfish And The Bottlemen are all individually great. And their riff-ridden, indie rock anthems are something pretty damn special, too.