Thousand Yard Stare - Earthanasia

Thousand Yard Stare have returned with their second album since the 2016 reformation. ‘Earthanasia’ follows 2020’s critically acclaimed ‘The Panglossian Momentum’ and was again recorded in Raffer Studios in Kent.

The album is available to buy on their Bandcamp page.

Since their return, they have had harder edges. ‘Action Stations’ throbbed with aggression and ‘It Sparks’ brought influences from The Cult to their fiery psyche styles. They took loyal fans from a position of wanting to reminisce about the early 90s through to their next chapter. Having their new direction accepted has given them freeing confidence on ‘Earthanasia’ to explore the destructive fringes of their creativity. ‘Hivemind’s blistering opening brings in the explosive rage of Sonic Youth and the fragility of Seafoods guitar lines. Unshackled by doubt, they bring in the psychedelic bliss of the previous album via Stephen Barnes most ethereal vocals to date. Together they create a sense of unity through the chaos. Whereas, on the former single ‘Isadora’, guitarist Giles Duffy taps into the immediacy of the ‘Version Of Me’ and ‘Wonderment’ and reimagines them in the form of a demonic nursery rhyme. Hope is often coursing through their melodies. Here, they’ve attacked the studio like a Dadaist nightmare where the concept never existed. An ode to lockdown if ever there was one.

The newfound confidence infiltrates the album’s two clarion call anthems ‘Broken Spectre’ and ‘Square Peg, Round Hole’. The former opens the album with a Sea Power via Moon Duo and latter-day The Horrors. The shimmering psychedelia rings out like a panic-stricken last call to arms, adopting a slot between melancholia and escapism. A desperate sense of urgency courses through its veins; it’s now or ever to save what we all love! ‘Square Peg, Round Hole’ however is an explosion of technicolour, as though John Squire joined Maximo Park to re-write their seminal album ‘The National Health’. Many can offer hope and defiance in song. Few can place themselves in the present, in the heart of the crisis like TYS have done here, and pick people up off the canvas.

What ‘Earthanasia’ does better than ‘The Panglossian Momentum’ is to consistently showcase a band on a journey that far outruns their beginnings. The title track ‘Earthanasia’ gives the album an ‘Inception’ style ending. Dependant on your glass half-full or empty outlook, the fleeting guitar licks are the light flickering or fading away:

“If our world was gonna end tonight / How we gonna make things right?”

The juxtaposition between the gentle sonic and Barnes’ angelic vocals is one that begins to transcend music. Musically, it allows the heart to fade away and accept what’s coming but, through Barnes, there is a route through the foggy nature of the guitars and saxophone. It lends itself exquisitely to the choices our country has faced from Barnard Castle through to whatever chancellor we have as I type.

‘Esprit Du Corps’ treads a similar path with its ethereal meanderings. The heartfelt introspections and political hope of Sea Power shine alongside the soaring melodies of Feeder as Barnes delivers a career-defining vocal. He soars with a vastness that belies his middle age. This is the stuff off of teenage kicks. Meanwhile ‘Adverse Cambers’ finds a way of combining the early hour’s contemplation of Doves’ debut with the melodic joy of Electric Soft Parade. Whereas ‘Borrowed Time’ serves up a poetic lullaby to Brexiteers and climate change Deniers:

“Leave me where I lie / I won’t be here tomorrow / Leave me asinine / The burden is mine to swallow…we’re all on borrowed time”

Their previous album in many ways was a second debut album. It said everything they ever wanted to say to the world. They thought it would cap off a great few years playing live and release the odd EP. What it did is best expressed in their single ‘Measures’:

“It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Just be sure that you are here at the end / It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Take pleasure in the message it sends”.

This sentiment flows from every corner of the album and has allowed them to be more expressive than ever. Long may it continue.

*Images and artwork courtesy of the band.

Thousand Yard Stare – Isadora

The Slough missive embarked on a series of single releases in 2022. ‘Isadora’ is the third in that run and was recorded at Raffer Studios in Kent where their stunning psyche comeback album ‘Panglossian Momentum’ was made.

Guitarist Giles Duffy originally created this surreal frenzy as an instrumental. In many ways, it pays homage to his more drawn-out work of the initial run in the late 80s and early 90s. However, once the singer and lyricist Stephen Barnes got to work, it became a condensed, almost demonic nursery rhyme befitting the post-pandemic world we find ourselves in.

During lockdown, with nowhere but to look in the past or inwards, Duffy and Barnes have conjured the dark and weirdness we all strayed to. Hope is often coursing through their melodies. Here, they’ve attacked the studio like a Dadaist nightmare where the concept never existed.

If only uncertainty always sounded this good.

The band will return to the stage again later in the year:

Click image for tickets.

Thousand yard Stare - Measures

After the success of their comeback album ‘The Panglossian Momentum’, fans may have feared that Thousand Yard Stare had said everything they needed to. Fortunately, the hunger remains as they return with new single ‘Measures’. It’s part of a run of four singles to be released via their Bandcamp page.

The harder edges of ‘Heimlich Manoeuvre’ and ‘Action Stations’ return on this tale of principles and the struggles to maintain them. The volatile riffs are continually threatening to boil over, the perfect accompaniment as Stephen Barnes outlines the joy in taking a stance and then the tension to hold the line.

‘Measures’ has a great directness, bullish but never throttling. It’s also imbibed with the carefree spirit of ‘Version of Me’. It serves to reawaken their younger angst in the opening stanza:

“It’s the measures that you take to define you / It’s the measures when you tie up loose ends / It’s the measures that you take to align you / It’s the pleasure in the message it sends.”

As the song roars to a close, clutching the early years of the band close to the heart become more joyous with the lyrics “It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Just be sure that you are here at the end / It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Take pleasure in the message it sends”. Their sage advice to new generations of punks doubles up as a reassuring to the elders who may have lost their way.

Since the ‘Deep Dreaming /Stargazing’ double EP return, they have not rested on former glories. The hallmarks remain but, the sprinkling of Grandaddy synths and the ferocious wall of sound continue to push Slough band on.

Long may it continue.

Thousand Yard Stare - The Panglossian Momentum

“Now I don't hear as good as I used to, and I forget stuff. And I ain't as pretty as I used to be. But god damn it, I'm still standing here”

The Slough outfit are back with their first studio album, ‘The Panglossian Momentum’, for twenty-eight years. After a litany of sold-out gigs and, two critically acclaimed EP’s, can they continue their fine run of form?

In the pantheon of indie bands, they stand strong with the likes of The Orchids and The Claim for having bad timing. Quintessentially English, they found their niche between the Grebo bands and psychedelia just as shoegaze and grunge rose to prominence and thus, were unfairly overlooked.

If there was to be a criticism of their debut, ‘Hands On’, at times it didn’t take its foot off the gas. Easy to say with hindsight, however, in the throes of youth, adrenaline was and should be king.

Older and wiser, gentler moments have infiltrated their sound, and they’ve hugely benefitted from them. Opener ‘Cresta – Sea Change’ combines the mystical acoustic moments of Zeppelin and the wistful grey skies of British Sea Power. ‘Spandrels’ also leans on BSP’s ability to sound offshore. The real beauty of this track is, its ability so sound off-kilter and lost at sea but, never without the hope of a new horizon to aim for, is the political hope many of us have craved.

Unsurprisingly, this level of hope continues on ‘A Thousand Yards - The Panglossian Momentum’. This is eight and a half minutes of eyes closed, shutting out the world and, holding optimism firmly in the heart. Not for the first time on this album, they showcase a sense of Noel Gallagher’s soaring immortality. Giles Duffy and Kevin Moxon’s guitars and Stephen Barnes' vocals combine in a true moment of glory.

‘Precious Pressures’ follows suit with a nod to The Who’s ‘Baba O’Riley’. The heaven-sent beauty of Ride’s ‘Vapour Trail’ combine with the night that, Gallagher dropped the bravado and bared his soul at the Royal Albert Hall. TYS have musically personified the regret, defiance and death-defying beauty of Randy “The Ram” Robinson.

When they do put the pedal to the floor, the impact is far more powerful. Lead single ‘It Sparks’, opens with the orchestral pomp and pomposity of the proms but, quickly melts away into the House of Love via The Cult. It's a glorious pop music moment. 26 Seconds of vile Tory austerity disintegrates into menacing rock music.

Ever since their comeback, they have been treading pastures new. However, on ‘Sleepsound’, they step right back into the playful mood of 1993’s ‘Version of Me’. Sumptuous psyche-pop riffs that have free-spirited aggression that cannot be denied.

Thousand Yard Stare’s return in 2016 and, to date, is one of Britain’s great underdog stories. A message of never give up and being true to yourself can and will pay off. It’s fair to say they are not in fine form because class is permanent.  

Thousand Yard Stare - Schism Algorithm

Slough’s unsung heroes TYS are back today with the second single from their upcoming album. ‘Schism Algorithm’, recorded at Raffer Studios with Callum Rafferty, is released via Stifled Aardvark Records.

The previous single ‘It Sparks’, ignited their bespoke flames of psychedelia and punk for the modern world. On ‘Schism Algorithm’, they explore the destruction left after the battles they thought on ‘It Sparks’.

Written by frontman Stephen Barnes and led guitarist Giles Duffy, it is very much a collaboration of sonic meets poetry. Barnes explores the post-truth world we find ourselves in with a laser-like focus.  

Through Duffy’s guitars, their classic ‘Comeuppance’ has been developed for the digital age. Every lick reflects the potency of the online world. The undeniable groove lures you in but, just like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, your only ever one step away from venomous bile. Duffy’s guitars, at times, offer hope but, there is a sense of dread and trepidation overarching everything.

This is a fine attempt to marry up rock ‘n’ roll with the new world we live in. TYS new album is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing of 2020.

Thousand Yard Stare: 100 Club, London

Thousand Yard Stare returned with a new single ‘It Sparks!’ recently. A firecracker embodying all that they were and all that they might become. Last week, they opened their Indie Daze set at 100 Club with said single.

Whether it was the glowing reviews or Lammo spinning it on 6music, the band were clearly buoyed. Giles Duffy’s guitar licks were more aggressive than ever and, frontman Stephen Barnes prowled the stage like man possessed. Not everyone was aware of ‘It Sparks’, they were four minutes later!

Their energy was tangible and this power grew all night, prompting Barnes to profess “it never used to be like this”. Signalling that a new album was coming lit the touch paper for this crowd. It was as though; they were more determined to prove their worth to the band than the other way round. It’s church in the middle ages or football before the businessmen sold it out in 1992. A communal sharing of love and faith to something bigger than themselves!

Throw in a VAR gag for the classic ‘0-0 AET’ and a devastating rendition of ‘Wonderment’ to close the set out, and TYS were straying into the region of demi-Gods!

The gig’s defining moment though, come from the live debut of ‘Schizm Algorithm’. Eight minutes of John Squire grooves via menacing Rage Against The Machine bass hooks. This gig proved, there is so much life left in this band.

Furthermore, their fans know it too!

*Image courtesy of John Marshall

Thousand Yard Stare – It Sparks!

When Thousand Yard Stare returned in 2015 at the 100 Club, no one could have foreseen the two fine Eps that followed. Such was their quality, most believed this was then riding off into the sunset on top.

The gigs kept coming though, and now, it’s coming full circle with another 100 Club date on October 3rd. To mark the occasion, they are releasing a new single 'It Sparks' via Stifled Aardvark Records.

Recorded at Raffer Studios in Kent (with Callum Rafftery), it continues in the vein of the Eps. Adopting new directions into their underdog spirit. The pomp and pomposity contained in the orchestral opening melts into House of Love via The Cult's guitars. It's a glorious pop music moment. 26 Seconds of vile Tory austerity disintegrates into menacing rock music.

It’s one thing to attack, it’s another to take people with you. In Stephen Barnes’ vocals, they have an instrument to do just that. They’re the musical equivalent of the Phil Kingston, the climate change protestor who sat upon a DLR train for his 83rd birthday. They carry a depth of love and selflessness you simply have to follow.

Barnes has always carried melody well but, this feels more like a performance. Throughout, he threatens a Johnny Rotten snarling violence but it never fully materialises. It’s pure drama, holing the listener in a state of excitement.

This is a notable point in TYS career. It might not be their best pop single, but it's definitely their most profound. With a new album in the offing, exciting times lay ahead.

Thousand Yard Stare - Deep Dreaming

Like many bands between 1989 and 1993, Thousand Yard Stare found themselves in the unenviable position of battling for air time against grunge music from the States. As everything though, musical is cyclical and their return in 2016 seems like perfect timing.

With BBC6 providing a home for all, and festivals a plenty compared to only John Peel, Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds Festival way back when, Thousand Yard Stare seem destined to ride a more favourable wave.

Action Stations

Perhaps the hardest hitting guitar sound they’ve ever had is countered by Stephen Barnes’ subtle vocals.

As the lyrical self-deprecation grows, the guitars begin to reach for something, almost mainstream indie-rock but, never quite get there. This isn’t a Noel Gallagher quest for glory, this Thousand Yard Stare straddling mainstream guitar pop from the underground, a position few are finer at.

Black & Blue Sky Thinking

The melodic shoegaze opening, hints a drifting away in a Ride-esque moment of glory but, Thousand Yard Stare’s indomitable spirit keeps walking forward throwing uppercuts. The sonic blend of down but never out is the perfect tonic for this tale of self-doubt and urge to overcome.

When Barnes’ professes  ‘if I cant stay the course / just leave me on all fours’, you’ll be left isolated wondering where to turn and then, in pure Rocky Balboa fashion, Giles Duffy’s rock n roll guitars come charging through the battlefield to save the day.

Heimlich Mnvr

Far more immediate, ignited by their archetypal guitar sound from the off. With middle age onset, this urgency carries far more weight. As the imagery grows, Duffy detonates an escapist solo of intense focus and thoughts of ‘one last chance’ become unavoidable.

Marginal Gains – Stargazing

Sean McDonough’s deep rippling bass hook threads this shoegazing EP closer together. No matter how expansive the guitars and production get, they remain rooted in by this glorious throb.

Whist the other tracks hint at last chance saloon, ‘Marginal Gains’ remains forever dreaming of better times to come.

“and if the gains seem marginal / take the reigns, imagine all / where kingdoms come and stars align / the futures yours and could be mine”

Having this hopefulness in the latter part of the career is far more inspirational than coming from a teenager. To not have live, love and optimism kicked out of you by middle age is a glorious thing, especially in this political climate. Where Trump and May want to row backwards, where UKIP think everything has gone to the dogs, Thousand Yard Stare maintain their youthful desire:

“Make the change and charge in full / With every fibre heal scars / The future’s yours and could be ours”

This, can only be a great thing.