The Sheffield Scenester

The Skywatchers Handbook is the album from Sheffield/Colchester band, Skywatchers (originally released on September 6, 2010.) After seeing them live at the City Hall’s Memorial Hall and at Queens Social Club, I have really started to love this band. They are an alternative/eccentronic band, influenced by the movement of the planets and all things outer space.

The album begins with “Dead Flowers for Her,” which starts off with a classical guitar melody fused with a bongo drum sound, which is relatively simple and also a very effective way for us to be introduced to the band. The vocals conjure up a hint of mystery within the track and even from the first few lyrics; we get the sense that there is a theme of calmness and a light feeling adding more to the element of mystery and the unknown. Towards the end of the song, there is a brilliant echo-effect used, which really brings out the song’s outer space element. Then, in the last 40 seconds, the mood completely changes and we get the electric guitars and a heavier sound from the synths.

The next track, “Soul Baptist,” is one of the tracks I just absolutely loved the first time I heard it and it keeps getting better and better with more listens. The beginning just grips you and takes you on a mysterious adventure. Every time I hear it, I just think of dark forests, deals with devils and, of course, spaceships. I love the way it tells a story and is so atmospheric that you can’t help but prick your ears up and listen. The acoustic guitar melodies and the subtle synth lines work so well together, creating, in my opinion, one of the best tracks on the album.

“The Curious Village” is up next and begins with birds tweeting and a beautiful keyboard solo. When the slow and subtle acoustic guitar begins and the drum sound emerges, it just feels like a lovely, carefree melody; all summery and innocent. It is only when the vocals come in, that we are transported into space; giving an almost out of body experience feel, as though we are looking down at our former selves or everybody we knew, who are down on earth. This song definitely conjures up ideas of space travel and the synth sounds just mirror this as they are so effective and create, not just a curious village, but a whole new perspective of life.

“Rhythm of Ashes” is the fourth song on the album and it conjures up ideas of milky ways and far away galaxies, creating a similar kind of out of body experience feel that you get from “The Curious Village.” It is one of those songs that can just make you feel so light and away from it all, in a sense. I remember listening to the band playing this live at the Memorial Hall for Tramlines last year, when everyone was lying on huge pillows, just chilling out and having a relaxing time, being transported into a different world by the sound of the music. I think this was the song that did it for me. I was in love with their music ever since.

The next track is “Serves me Right” which is more upbeat than the rest of the tracks on this album. I love the synth sound on this and the electronic/psychedelic feel that you get is great. It is clear that the band are using the theme of space travel really well as it is apparent in pretty much every song so far and this one is like a song you would possibly play at the end of a celebratory mission to Mars…or something.

“The Lunar Tune” is up next and, of course, from the title, we can see that we are taken on a journey to the moon with the slow melody from the acoustic guitar. The gentle vocals make it easy to picture the idea of being in space, as they are so calm and beautiful…”the earth, she looks so pretty, here in outer space” and, do you know what? I bet she does.

I love the next track “Do You Want to Go to Space Young Man.” It is also another upbeat song and is probably the one I’ve listened to most out of all the songs on the album. The synth melody is absolutely brilliant and the vocals do take you on a mysterious journey. I wonder where this night bus takes you. One thing’s for sure, it will be a bumpy ride. Seriously, this band should make a film about this whole space travel thing, because if the film is as good as the ideas the tracks conjure up, then they’ll definitely be onto something. I think the echo effect at the end of the song is really good with the “I want to see infinity” line. You know what, so do I…not just yet though.

“Ever Felt the Sky” is the next track and this, again, is quite soothing and calm. There is a lot of brilliant synth sounds and combined with the bongo drums, it is another great tune from the enigmatic space travellers. It is quite simplistic, but has a great energy and I love the vocals.

“Small Lights” is up next and I think the beginning of the track is really effective as the vocals come in first, followed by the synth. Another brilliant song from the Sheffield/Colchester band; showing off their exciting and mysterious ideas about space.

“Keep Watching the Sky” is the final track. Now we’re back on planet earth and are looking out of telescopes at the vast amazingness of outer space; a brilliant way to end the album. You have to see the video to this song. It is really funny. Old men with beards and telescopes and a crazy man falling out of a window into a bucket of water head first. Genius!

Words by Shirley Bell