After a busy and productive 2011 working behind the desk with Sam Bell (R.E.M, Regina Spektor) and John O’Mahony (Metric, Alberta Cross), London group Straylings bring to our ears a track from their soon-to-be-released debut album.

‘Carver’s Kicks’ is a hazy trip into a world of folky psychedelia. In many respects, the song could certainly be described as ‘beautiful’. The syncopation of acoustic and electric guitars compliment each other wonderfully, bringing with it a dreamy therapeutic calmness. Imagine yourself collapsed in field after a night of horrendous partying, totally fucked out of your head and whispering pathetically that your ‘head feels funny’. Well, this would be a fantastic musical cure to that hangover, especially when your ears are lovingly greeted by Lana’s vocals. Undoubtedly, her melancholic, reflective voice is one that could irresistibly lull you to blissful sleep. But what really sends the goose bumps shivering for me is that there is some undeniable darker edge to these vocals, which cannot clearly be defined. It wants you lullaby you, but it won’t let you sleep. This ambiguity, this slight confusion of whether to be soothed or scared, provides the magic ingredient to take this song from being a mere pretty little tune to something you want to hear again and again.

Straylings will be releasing their debut album, ‘Entertainment On Foreign Grounds’, soon this year. Check them out here on Facebook, and be sure to download the album. They are also playing at the Camden Barfly on Saturday 14th January.

Straylings: moody and meloncholic