The Shed Project – If You’re Getting Busy (You’re Getting Better)

Bolton outfit The Shed Project released their latest single ‘If You’re Getting Busy (You’re Getting Better)’ last week. It’s the debut single from their forthcoming second album, which is due for release on August 23rd.  The single has been made in conjunction with the mental health charity Whysup.

Last time out on ‘If You Know You Know’, they were in a riotous mood. Here, the ‘Love Spreads’ and ‘Begging You’ licks subside, allowing their debut album's indie soul to re-emerge better than ever on this tale of mental health and addiction issues.

Frontman Roy Fletcher’s vocal slots into the delicate psychedelia made prominent by Northside’s Dermo in the early 90s. Fletcher’s angelic delivery lends this personal tale an extra layer of integrity. As he decrees the song’s title, his soft, almost fragile vocal carries a personal wait of experience that demands attention.

Coupled with it are the band’s finest guitars to date. With hints of the ‘Mighty Quinn’, ‘Walk On The Wild Side’ and the country soul of ‘Urban Hymns’, the band have touched upon a more universal sonic to light up this deeply personal narrative.

The run-up to their second album will have fans drooling in anticipation after this offering.

The Shed Project – If You Know You Know

The Shed Project returned last Friday with their new single ‘If You Know You Know’ via One Love Records. It comes hot on the heels of their debut album ‘The Curious Mind Of A Common Man’ which only came out in April. Album number two is underway, how does the new sound fair?

They may have formed in the garden, but with guitar power like this, they’ll end on big stages. The expansive sonic of Squire’s ‘It’s Begging You’ is given the snarl and hiss of ‘Be Here Now’. Crucially, unlike the latter, The Shed Project have honed its power by keeping it under four minutes.

Despite the ‘Second Coming’-esque power, their baggy spirit hasn’t dissipated. As the hedonistic riffs strive for the heavens Roy Fletcher’s vocals float alongside to anchor their roots. Fletcher could be forgiven for delivering a more ethereal vocal alongside the heavy psychedelia, more interestingly though, he takes his early Tim Burgess-esque style towards the early raw punk spirit of Liam Gallagher with hints of Daltrey circa ‘I Can See For Miles’.

The hate, the anger, and the lack of agency we all feel toward these incompetent and corrupt energy companies posting record profits pour out of the Cream-esque crescendo guitars in the closing stages. It’s the perfect tonic for the masses to release their angst at a world going to shit!

Be sure to catch them at K Festival in Rhyl on August 6th

Click image for tickets.

The Shed Project - The Curious Mind of a Common Man

Bolton five-piece The Shed Project released their debut album ‘The Curious Mind of a Common Man’ recently. The album was recorded at Bolton’s Ivy Studio and produced by (and mixed) by Danny Hayes (The Jade Assembly).

The album is available to buy via One Love Records.

This debut album comes in two parts essentially. The groove-laden and the ultra-personal. ‘Modern Way’, ‘One Shot’, and ‘Temptation’ fall into the first category to give the album some real gloss.

‘Modern Way’ takes the warming glow of the Allman Brothers solos to the hedonistic drugged-up John Squire circa ‘Second Coming’. The clash of baggy and rock ‘n’ roll is the perfect accompaniment for this tale of awakening and political outlying. ‘One Shot’ pays homage to ‘Country Song’ and Brain Dead’ via the Roses. The Shed Project is intent on stamping their mark on history though and, through an urgent, almost violent need to defy, they deliver a no-nonsense attitude to keep these tracks current. The guitars and backing vocals glide through the air with a sense of danger as frontman Roy Fletcher lays out his clarion call. Meanwhile, ‘Temptation’ taps into the underdogs and underrated baggy-era bands Northside and New Automatic Fast Daffodils. The grooves are effortless but, their penchant for spikiness allows nuggets of A Certain Ratio and The Fall to add funkier and harder edges.

It’s on the tracks ‘Sal’, ‘Luck Number’, and ‘My Life’ where the album comes together. The former is a hazy Kurt Vile via DMA’s ode to his loved one. It’s The Streets with guitars, and, like Mike Skinner, those jarring moments are the real beauty. ‘Lucky Number’, seemingly the prequel to ‘Sal’, lights up the album with romantic hope. The c86 sound is given the human interest it deserves as early Wolfhounds and Sarah records unite to produce a great anthem. ‘My Life’ however, is the album’s shining light. Afflecks Palace lysergic beauty collides with Style Council’s summer adventures. Nostalgia is the foe of so many guitar bands but as Burke sings “be who you arrrreeee” and the Marr and McGuinn guitars glisten, they paint to show how their past can be the future for new generations.

The guitars will inevitably lure people in. The licks of ‘Livin’ are so infectious its medically advisable to wear gloves when listening. It is though, vocally and lyrically where the real rewards come. What at first, seems too direct become astute in the moment observations upon return visits. There’s so much to admire on the UK scene right now, Afflecks Palace, Pastel, The Institutes and The Utopiates have all found new ways to reignite the greats from the 80s and 90s and now, the Shed Project have firmly added themselves to that list.

*Images courtesy of the Simon Lee & David Sangster