Words by Nick Mee. @Nickjmee
Cork-based quintet The Shaker Hymn set the period guitar-based indie of ‘Sucking It Out’ to a languid rocker's riff that bookends a tune of sufficient hook and strut to warrant no justification for its retro inclinations. The easiest ballpark reference would be Arctic Monkeys, particularly as The Shaker Hymn manage to draw out aspects of the Sheffield band’s dual Yorkshire-grit and LA-glitter manifestations. Placed among the song’s streamlined chorus and catchy reverbed harmonies is a startlingly spirited guitar solo, whose hue of harpsichordal distortion is one of the components that keeps the listener guessing over the track’s brief course, elevating ‘Sucking It Out’ well above your usual alt.rock fodder.
The Shaker Hymn’s debut album, Do You Think You’re Clever? is out on 10 June on Heavy Noids Records