Dinosaur Pile-Up - Birds And Planes

‘Birds And Planes’ is another meaty slab of grungy rock goodness from Leeds three-piece Dinosaur Pile-Up. It does bear saying however that now they’re something of a different three piece with the drummer and bassist from when we last heard from them (Steve and Tommy) having left to join other bands (Japanese Voyeurs and Fake Death), being replaced by The Old Romantic Killer Band’s Harry Johns on bass and Mike Shells from The Brownies on drums. If you’re still following at this stage then you can note that they join kingpin Matt who completes DPU Mk.2 by staying in his old role.

It’s encouraging that the band have seen fit to take time away to initiate these line-up changes as they’ve risked losing momentum in the process. Part of last years BBC ‘Sound Of’ poll, ‘Birds & Planes’ is their first release since ‘The Most Powerful EP In The Universe!!!’ this time last year. In that time Pulled Apart By Horses have arguably taken DPUs place as the hard hitting Leeds group that have breached the consciousness of indie fans up and down the land. Not to worry however, as by avoiding the hype and by having songs as good quality as this we can see DUP avoiding the pitfalls of previous grunge ‘revivalists’ such as The Vines and Nine Black Alps – the failure to live up to expectations.

Back to the single at hand however, the vocal is lazily and almost self-mockingly employed. We get the hard crunch that we require without the undue angst, which unusually belies the oddy imaged darker lyrics. “Maybe I should ask the sky to suck me up one day” begins the chorus whilst before the rhythm section kick in we get the line “nothing is for sure you know, except the day you go to hell and the turning hands of time”. Blimey. Still, if a rocking kick up the arse is what you require then please turn towards Dinosaur Pile-Up.