Minor Victories - Minor Victories

The word ‘supergroup’ can sometimes send shivers down the spine, but the formation of Minor Victories makes sense both on paper and on record – Editors guitarist Justin Lockey had the intention to create an extreme noise EP, recruiting Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite and Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell. Whilst that EP never materialised, his vision has led to the formation of something altogether more enticing.

The album begins with a commanding confidence and swagger, ‘Give Up The Ghost’ proving to be a real statement of intent, led by crashing drums and a thumping melody. The lead single ‘A Hundred Ropes’ follows, which sounds exactly how you would expect a band consisting of members of Mogwai and Slowdive to sound. In this case however, that predictability isn’t a bad thing – the propulsive electronic beat is irresistible, and it’s easy to see why Goswell has claimed this to be the “the most exciting thing I’ve done to date”.

The record truly comes into its own with the astonishing ‘Breaking My Light’, a menacing, brooding monster of a track, which sees Goswell softly sing as the melody is pushed on by an eerie orchestral arrangement reminiscent of ‘Homogenic’-era Björk.

Elsewhere, The Twilight Sad’s James Graham provides vocals for the euphoric and anthemic ‘Scattered Ashes (Song For Richard)’, whereas the collaboration with Mark Kozelak is the only misstep – his drawled, laconic vocals seem out of place, especially when intertwined with Goswell’s delicate delivery.