"Picking Up Pieces" by Permanent Daylight
Review
Having just got my review of Permanent Daylight's "Bittersweet" single into print, as anticipated, their latest release, "Picking Up Pieces" has now been announced ahead of its 13th June appearance in public.
Produced by Jon Webb at The Moonbase, the original recording dates from the time of the band's four piece incarnation of Faith Robertson-Charnley (vocals & rhythm guitar), Lou Webb (bass guitar), Mollie Stott (drums) and Joseph Sullivan (guitar).
Consequently the sound is a little fuller than "Bittersweet" which is fine as that song needed space to breath: this more overtly jaunty track benefits from the interplay of chiming guitars. However that's far from the whole story in that department. To these are added complementary harmonised vocals (all courtesy of Faith) which weave around & over the instrumental lines producing a complex picture which has the lightness of touch that makes it sound a lot simpler than it actually is. The sum of the parts definitely creates something of value beyond its own measure.
As ever, new music triggers some senses of evocation within me: it certainly brought back memories of bands such as Dolly Mixture or The Marine Girls (though both produced the vocal effect with multiple singers not just the one). Others might be reminded of Talulah Gosh or The Pastels.
No truly original band deserves direct comparison with any other & so I emphasise that the above are mere indicators for you to get a preliminary mental handle on "Picking Up Pieces" before you hear it. Thereafter you will love & appreciate it entirely on its own many & unique merits. I know I have.
I said "overtly jaunty" with reason. Like all the best writers, Permanent Daylight create tensions between subject & form and the lyrics unsettle as much as the tune lifts one up. Equally between the soft & beguiling strands of the sonic web lie gossamer strands of ringing steel. First they lure you in & when you're caught on their hook, they hit you with what they feel you ought to know.
I was very enthusiastic about "Bittersweet" and was wondering how they'd follow it. The answer (very thankfully) isn't duplication or building a formula but complementary, equally as excellent in its own way, demonstrating breadth of vision & voice.
And please don't forget that on Friday 20th June Permanent Daylight join Monastery, Gutter Puppy and King of the Alps at the next "Hot Music Live Presents" fundraiser for The Tin. Hopefully they'll be playing the new single!
Tickets can be obtained via this link:
https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/hot-music-live-presents-monastery-the-tin-at-the-coal-tickets/14371523
