Tindersticks – The Hungry Saw
The Hungry Saw – Tindersticks
By Chris Peken
Five years is a long time between albums (and an even longer time between drinks). Once the most distinctive (and least British) of British groups, Tindersticks’ densely layered songs, highly literary lyrics and singer Stuart Staples’ mellow and mellifluous baritone mumbles put them in the company of Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen and Lee Hazlewood rather than contemporaries Oasis, Blur and The Happy Mondays. The five year “hiatus” was more a case of not really knowing if they had a future rather than needing a break. In that time Staples has released two solo albums, and more recently the band did a set of All Tomorrows Parties gigs, allowing them to reform and purge a lot of thier history. The result, when they decided to gather in a studio in France, is The Hungry Saw – a remarkable album that’s not so much a return to form as a Renaissance. Staples’ dreamy, whispered, smoky vocals remain, but musically this is a fresh band full of depth and light. Yesterday’s Tomorrows demonstrates this as a trippy flute-like line runs through a song full of organ, brass and a simple soul inspired guitar – with Staples vocals front and centre. The title track might even be called jaunty, and it features some of guitarist Neil Fraser’s best work. The clarity of a band reborn is evident on The Hungry Saw, each player crystal clear on what is required, no more, no less. If a five year break brings this sort of cohesion and beauty, perhaps it should become mandatory.
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