Gardenback: Word Of Mouth EP – review

Gardenback

Word Of Mouth EP

Sour Grapes Records

DL all available platforms / Limited edition cassette

Oldham trio Gardenback have been on the scene pre lockdown for a few years now and they return with an EP of raw DIY that threatens to get you infected when the live scene kicks back in reckons Wayne AF Carey…

Gardenback were first featured in Louder Than War back in 2018 by our own Roxy Gillespie here when they were treading the Manc underground scene as an exciting prospect, alongside the likes of Cabbage, Blanketman, The Blinders and all those kind of quirky bands that were heading off on their own tangents back then. They return in the aftermath of a year of ‘you’re in you’re out’ lockdown madness with a nice little EP that should plant them firmly in the race of exciting live acts that are aching to get back onto the stage and do what they love for the sake of our sanity.

This four track EP kicks of with title track Word Of Mouth which is pure 60’s style garage, so typical of that sound that resonates from the greater Manchester outskirts a la Cabbage, Twisted Wheel, Stepford Wives and of course early Inspiral Carpets. A fresh number full of quirky DIY. Do No Evil picks up the pace, a nice little riff filled with breakneck drums and almost Lee Broadbent (Cabbage) vocals which will have you comparing, yet it’s exciting in it’s own right. They have a slow Tarantino film track feel in Cynical Guy that crashes slowly in out with a scuzzy guitar sound that bounds around your head. Go Native gets it’s funk on and has a sound of Cud running through it. Proper funky drumming that shakes it’s booty with that groovy bass and jangling C80 guitar sound. Having graced the stages at Kendal Calling, Dot To Dot and Cotton Clouds, these guys are ready for you. Ones to watch…

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Words by Wayne Carey, Reviews Editor for Louder Than War. His author profile is here