mp3: Nightmares

website: http://www.aereogramme.co.uk (designed and ruined by me, until Chemikal Underground bother to make them a real site. well I’ve gotta promote it. it’s not like I’m getting the lifetime supply of free t-shirts or DS games I was promised)

Yes, my third Aereogramme post in recent times, but this one comes with actual music.

I was actually going to write it last night, but it’s just as well I didn’t, as the song (hosted by Pitchdork) got pulled today at the request of Chemikal Underground. Yesterday it was ‘Barriers’, which is due to be released as a 7″ single in January, so they weren’t so keen on it being up for free. I don’t think I’ve heard the finished version of ‘Barriers’ yet–and I can’t remember if I have an older acoustic version–but I do know the initial comments were a tad sarky/uncalled for: ‘it seems Aereogramme are headed into dangerous Coldplay/Snow Patrol waters. It’s a sprawling legato, lushly orchestrated and romantic, without a hint of menace.’ Anyway, I’m really too old to feel bothered by anything I read on a webzine.

On the whole I’m grateful that Pitchdork are taking the time to host an exclusive mp3 of a band I love. And getting back to the point, the song available today is ‘Nightmares’; a song that I’ve loved for quite some time in its acoustic form, and it’s fascinating to hear it come to life with a full band. There are lots of strings, lots of mood, and lots of lyrical hope. I’ve been good so far and haven’t been listening to mp3s of the album (My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go), but of the little bits I have heard, and from all I’ve read, I know this track is fairly representative of their current direction. And I also know that Craig’s voice has really come out of its shell this time round, coming to the very front of the mix and sounding stronger than ever, which must be reassuring having lost most touring opportunities last year through vocal problems.

Undoubtedly I’ll be revisiting Aereogramme again over the next couple of months, because as the tag says, they are one of my favourite bands. I hope my enthusiasm encourages you to check them out (or give them another go).