It’s a rare occurrence that I get to review two singles recorded and mixed at the same place over the span of three days, but everything that’s coming out of the Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton is always worthy of writing about.
After reviewing the most excellent but dark “Frosty” by The Novus, this time we have something more lighter and more radio friendly. Shader are a popular (more than 6k followers on Facebook) four piece group from the Northwest that know how to deliver melodic and groovy tracks. Their newest single “Be My Saviour” released on 7th of February was produced by Gavin Monaghan, the wizard responsible for the monumental sounds of the Twang, Editors, Pagans SOH and The Blinders among others.
“When Shader sent me their first demo of ‘Be My Saviour’, it was obvious that it was a big song, really anthemic with a strong vocal” – admits Mr Monaghan -“Lead singer, Stu Whiston can really sing! And I loved the lyric ‘Like a shopping trolley on a pebble beach'”.
With a solid production and the recommendation from BBC Introducing, “Be My Saviour” proves to be another success for the quartet, after their well-received last three singles: “There Was A Time”, “Streets Tell Stories” and “Broken Minds”. The song is inspired by the constant and addictive use of social media, and is an in-your-face, bit-larger-than-life post Brit pop track inspired by Oasis, The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. Yet it is far from being a nostalgia trip, it has a modern sound, much faster beat and crispness that will delight fans of The Lathmus, The Racket or Ivory Wave.
Shader have played several important festivals in recent years including Kendall Calling and if somebody from the booking team at the Shiiine On Weekender is reading this, please make sure you have them on your next bill. They will be a perfect fit.
We also have to praise the video to the song that starts with members of the band taking spins in shopping trolleys around what looks like a supermarket car park. A bit of self depicting humour never hurt anybody and it seems that the Shader guys have not only a good musical taste but also they do not take themselves too seriously.
Shader is touring in support of the single and you can catch them in Preston (The Ferret, March 13th) and This Feeling showcase in Stoke (March 22nd).