The Brute Chorus - Grow Fins [Single]

La Digit

July 4, 2008, 03:57 PM

Off the back of a triumphant set on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury comes The Brute Chorus’ second single. Released for download on the 6th of July and as a limited edition vinyl on the 14th of July, “Grow Fins” is the follow up to the gloriously gothic “Chateau”. The East London four-piece were formed over a year ago and the indie hierarchy have already tipped the band for big things. With influences ranging from Captain Beefheart to The Talking Heads it’s hard to pinpoint exactly who it is the band sound like.

“Grow Fins” has a sound in keeping with the current ska-tinged indie of Vampire Weekend and The Arctic Monkeys. The bluesy, country feel to the song gives it different niche and makes it standout from the crowd. Singer James Steel sounds like James McCabe of Zutons and Edward Larrikin of Larrikin Love in this tune. There is a very unsubtle, but ultimately, fun build-up though the song and as a kazoo dirtily rumbles in the background you realise there is something very different to this band.

B-Side (if you can now call it that) is the scally/gypsy sounding "Nebuchadnezzar". Even though this is only their second single it is instantly obvious this is the style the band are the most comfortable with. It has the rhythm of the Proclaimers’ 500 Miles and the craziness of the early Coral tunes. Different instruments stutter in and out of the record while the song still flows along perfectly.

The Brute Chorus are on tour until mid-August and if this single is anything to go by seeing them live should be a must. Fitting in vaguely somewhere alongside The Coral, The Zutons and Gogol Bordello doesn’t really do the band justice but they have plenty of time and potential to define their own sound.