Bright Emotional Indie Pop
The Dykeenies are one of the most hyped up Scottish bands in recent years, somewhere between mainstream indie pop that's sure to induce hysteria live and energetic rock that froths around the edges, the band are onto a sure fire hit with 'Nothing Means Everything'.
Opener 'The Panic' hits you with a frantic barrage frisson of energy that will have you leaping around your room for its 3 minute duration as guitars thrash and percussion trembles with fearsome might for an indie band.
Current single and steaming ballad, 'Stitches' is a real belter which a powerful refrain of, "I adore the taste of rain", high culture this is not, despite the faux intellectual album title but The Dykeenies write songs with a real passion and it's easy to imagine this chorus being screamed by crazed fans. The other soft-centred tune, 'Clean Up Your Eyes' probably has more in common with Snow Patrol than the mention of eyes; it's a slowburning melodic number with lots of shoegazing moments.
'Lose Ourselves' has the ferocious dynamism of hit bands like Jimmy Eat World, but with a taught electro edge, it's an anthem with plenty of floor filler quality, while, 'Things You Cannot See' has a certain gravitas about its incisive disco beats. "You can't stop fighting if the fight's got you out of control" asserts singer Brian Henderson with punchy clarity with some emotive riffs flying around like weapons. It's hard to avoid using that e-word with The Dykeenies, although it's in the cleanest possible sense as they stray nowhere near the cheesiness of real emo-branded acts, but use their melodic rock and driving harmonies to convey a real passion and beauty.
'Nothing Means Everything' is a thoroughly radio-friendly album with every track a possible hit; that's not to say that they're all musically innovative, but that they would certainly appeal to the mainstream and see people bopping along in their cars or on their stereos. As they already have plenty of backing, it's now time to sit back and watch how far this Glasgow group can go.