astrid pick up where Fall, Stand, Dance left off on the jaunty Storm Sessions EP.

Release Date: 4th May 2020

Label: Wee Studio Records

Formats: DL / CD

Well – just as the nation attempts to decipher the gibberish confusion of The Prime Minister’s latest lockdown/social distancing/return to work (or possibly don’t – I can’t quite figure it out…) directive, the weather takes a turn for a decidedly cooler state. 

But never mind, because just as all this was happening, the new EP from Glasgow band, astrid, dropped onto my doormat to bring some welcome clarity and warmth to my locked down existence.  Recorded during February 2020 and released on Wee Studio Records on 4th May, this is a lovely short collection of bright, fresh, jaunty songs that provide a welcome reminder of what this band is capable of.

astrid (note the lower case first letter, that my computer keeps trying to correct) was formed in Glasgow in the late 1990s when Hebridean pals Willie Campbell and Charlie Clark were joined by Gareth Russell on bass and Gareth Thom on drums. 

The band achieved some significant success, backed by support from such luminaries as Edwyn Collins, John Peel and Belle and Sebastian and released nine singles, three albums and three EPs before their initial disbandment in 2004. 

The band reformed in July 2016 and, later that year, issued their fourth album, Fall, Stand, Dance to critical acclaim.  The Storm Sessions EP picks up where Fall, Stand, Dance left off and astrid have used the EP to rework four of their best loved singles and live favourites.  It’s a short collection, only four tracks, all of which feature breezy vocals, tasteful harmonies and simple yet lively acoustic guitar/bass/drums instrumentation.

Distance, Modes of Transport and Poison Reaction are all acoustic reworkings of well-loved singles (Modes of Transport was a Radio 1 Single of the Week, back in 2001) and the fourth track, Falling And Flying is a cover of a song from the movie Crazy Heart.  All are bright, happy and enjoyable songs which capture that elusive location between Celtic rock and ‘80s pop without being too serious or too tacky. 

Altogether, this is a pleasant, entertaining EP that will stand repeated plays – I heartily recommend it.

astrid have a string of tour dates in Scotland and England scheduled for June and, if these dates go ahead, it would well worth checking them out – for information on these and further dates, visit www.astridmusic.net.

Listen to Falling And Flying here:

astrid online: Facebook / Twitter

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