Once upon a time there were a few friends that got together and decided to form a band because of… naaa that’s been done before, try this one… Dan Adams (Cornelius Crane) along with writer/illustrator friend Dunstan Carter find a shoe box outside a pub in Ashton-Under-Lyne filled with a mix mash of scribbled notes, drawings and grainy old VHS tapes. Beneath the box is a message simply stating “Do something with this”.
So the Dead Captain released their 4 track EP on the 17th of July drawing influence from discarded shoe boxes, classic Americana & the 90’s college rock scene.
First up is ‘This Old Village’, a micro glance over a northern village traditional event i.e. Morris dancing, stalls, kids with ice creams etc , yeah why do these things happen, I remember such things but now I have grown I truly do not know why (as a kid) I bought into this. Sure it still happens, it has a purpose and a public face but I still don’t get it. Beautiful meandering track, laid back rift with perfect lyrics to such a memory, thanks for that.
We’re out of the village and into the suburbs with ‘Looming Moon’, not so much as painting a picture in the mind but more like a walk through the dark streets with a paranoid tour guide. It’s a slight shift in style too, I’m loving the distortion guitar that’s slowly grinding away throughout the track.
‘Who Knows’ follows on in every way and by now I’m getting a real feel for the Captain and their general vibe, a sort of Northern abandonment which we up north tend to accept and in part don’t give a shit about anyway. Just the odd gripe but hey it’s grim up North mate. ‘Finale ‘Toddler Democracy. Is more up front with this theme and I completely agree, we live in echo chambers & democracy is spoon fed to us all.
I have to say I really like The Captain, it sounds fresh yet familiar, a ramble inside the mind of a Northern enigma. Back to that shoe box with the note that simply read “Do something with this”. Well they did something and here it is. Now your turn to do something after reading this article, get yourself a copy of this excellent EP, it’s here for a reason.
Out 17th July 2017 (Stereo Kill records)
Canned Static 