By: Darien Campo Staff Writer
Three Blind Wolves is a three-piece indie rock band that hails from Glasgow, Scotland. Though they’ve not been active long, they have quickly proven themselves to be a stellar group that is well worth listening to. Their unique sound, self-described as “folk-tinged psychedelic blues-rock,” is brought to life in their first full-length album “Sing Hallelujah for the Old Machine.”
Released in 2013 under Scottish indie label Instinctive Raccoon, “Sing Hallelujah for the Old Machine” is a piece brimming with a tremendous amount of power and emotion.
The tracks are a fantastic blend of driving guitar rock, backed by a complex orchestra of instruments. Mandolins, slide guitars, and horns fill out the sound on this album, bringing a very country/folk feel to the music. Almost like The Decemberists meets Arcade Fire.
Listeners are served with a wide array of arrangements on “Sing Hallelujah.” From songs like “Parade,” which pound the crunching guitar and hit us with a rousing chorus, to songs like “When the Garden Gets Near,” which features no more than Ross Clark and his acoustic guitar. And even with the diversity in dynamics, all of the songs seem equally compelling.
The album spans 11 tracks of raw humanity, poured out into your headphones. We’ve all listened to sad music, but you’ve probably never heard it sung like Ross Clark.
Clark’s vocals soar from soft whispers, mumbled into the microphone, all the way to roaring screams of power. Clark’s lyrics weave a gorgeous tapestry of wanting. Each song is a thread through different aspects of loss and loneliness, all penned by Clark himself.
“Sing Hallelujah for the Old Machine” is less about wallowing in our own sadness, and more about rejoicing in it. These songs almost seem to celebrate our human ability to experience such emotional pain. It brings a delightful edge to what could have just been a series of sad songs.
On the album’s single, “Parade,” Clark said: “Times are hard just now. You’ve got to keep yourself moving on.”
If you’re looking for a new rising band to keep an eye on, it’d be hard for me to find a better recommendation than Three Blind Wolves, and their album “Sing Hallelujah for the Old Machine.”
