the shape of the shape

Starless & Bible Black
the shape of the shape
locust 118
CD / 180 gram LP
2009-10-27

On their Sophomore release, The Shape of the Shape, Manchester, England’s Starless & Bible Black have drawn together the sounds of ‘70s Topanga Canyon country-rock, ‘80s Mancunian jangle, and space-age psych tinged drones to make a dynamic, warm and woodsy second album. Gone are the dulcimers and banjos of the first record, replaced by an electrifying wall of Telecaster and Moog, and standing in the center of this bold, widescreen sound resides the earthy
and husky voice of Hélène Gautier.

Recorded at Bryn Derwen within the wilds of the Snowdonian mountains, and during all night sessions in the relative tranquility of their local village hall, Shape Of The Shape is an album of contrasting styles, themes and approaches that coheres beautifully into a seamless entity. We get guided through verses and choruses of swamp rock, gothic bluesy chanson and smoky acoustic ballads, as well as a jazz-folk tinged instrumental – after all, the band take their name from the classic 1965 Stan Tracey cut – but the apogee of this collection is the driving drone-choral opus, Les Furies - sung in French, this is a very Gallic observation of after hours culture. And while this album traverses all these different styles, the band never deny the importance of a fine tune and a fine song.