Dutch Uncles - The Ink

People might be writing a lot about the rise of new Mancunian music, but the fact is that most of it comes from outside its boundaries, from the picturesque surrounds of Marple. Dutch Uncles are relative veterans of an area that’s also given the world Wu Lyf, Egyptian Hip Hop and Delphic. It’s been a while since they released their eponymous debut album, but ‘The Ink’ has certainly been worth the wait.

Out on fledgling label Love & Disaster Records, there’s a pounding sense of drama that runs throughout the track – from it’s jittery, opening riff right through to the falsetto vocals. If Grammatics had spent their time listening to 65daysofstatic, this is what the outcome might have been – urgent, frenetic and utterly irresistible. Supposedly about sticking to your decisions, regardless about any bad feelings – a suitable theme for a band who sound like they’ve made conscientious decision to grow their sound.

B-side ‘Creature’ demonstrates a similar hitherto unexplored manic brilliance that always laid at the heart of Dutch Uncles work, perfectly capturing the energy that the band display live. Though a one off single, you can help wonder how great these tracks would sound on a long player – which, on this display, should only be a matter of time in coming.