Headshrinkers are a four-piece from the Black Country consisting of Garran Hickman (vocals), James Knott (guitar), Xavier Al-Naqib (bass), and Scarlett Churchill (drums, backing vocals).
Let’s take a look at their lead single ‘No Friends At Sea’ from their upcoming debut EP ‘Doorway Conversations’.
No Friends A Sea
Singer and lyricist Garran Harran recalls stories of his elder relatives about the war and the wise adage from his father that “the sea has no Friends”. Garran’s retelling inevitably strikes a contemplative mood but, as the track builds to its rousing brass-fuelled climax a sense of positivity emerges. With the government descending into vicious divide and conquer tactics once again, Garran’s reflections of the past to forge a heart-warming spirit. Images of where all is not lost and communities can rebuild.
Vocally, he finds a way of sitting between Nick Cave on the spoken word aspects and Jarvis Cocker when he unleashes his passionate yelps. The acoustic guitars and the sorrowful electric parts are the perfect accompaniment to the stories of Operation Dynamo and the human tragedy that went with it. One of the bleakest moments in British history was met with heroic responses from the public who sailed across to save all they could. Headshrinkers, via their elder family and friends, have enraptured the solemn but uplifting nature we all look upon that generation in.
This is, in essence, the best Public Service Broadcasting single they never wrote. Making the past relevant today but, Headshrinkers have done it through more organic paths than archive footage. It adds depth, and humanity to their art, making them emotionally very powerful.
Image courtesy of Sonic PR.